REVERSAL OF CARBON-TETRACHLORIDE INDUCED CHANGES IN MICROVISCOSITY AND LIPID-COMPOSITION OF LIVER PLASMA-MEMBRANE BY COLCHICINE IN RATS

Colchicine is beneficial in the treatment of cirrhotic patients, it pr events changes in plasma membrane bound enzymes induced by CCl4 intoxi cation. In this study, lipid composition and microviscosity were measu red in liver plasma membranes isolated from rats given CCl4. Microvisc osity values increased in rats given CCl4 for six weeks but fell consi derably in those given CCl4 for 10 weeks. Both these changes were abse nt when colchicine was given with CCl4. The cholesterol/phospholipid m olar ratios and lipid peroxide values increased but plasma membrane ph ospholipids, the length of fatty acyl chains, and the unsaturation ind ex fell significantly after CCl4 intoxication. Colchicine treatment al so prevented these changes. Changes in the lipid composition of liver plasma membranes were significantly correlated with lipid peroxidation . Colchicine prevents changes in the physicochemical properties of liv er plasma membranes induced by longterm CCl4 treatment, probably by bl ocking peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids.