Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 1999, 64, 548-552
https://doi.org/10.1135/cccc19990548

Erythrocyte Membrane Fluidity in Diabetics: Fluorescence Study

Vladimír Jakuša,*, Uwe Fuhrb, Wolfgang Wörnerc and Norbert Rietbrockc

a Department of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 2, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
b Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Köln, D-50931 Köln, Germany
c Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, D-60590 Frankfurt/Main, Germany

Abstract

Erythrocyte membrane fluidity is changed in diabetic subjects with long-term complications. As membrane fluidity indicator, the mean steady-state fluorescence anisotropy was measured in 1,6-diphenylhexa-1,3,5-triene labelled erythrocyte membranes prepared from six control healthy donors and six poorly controlled diabetic subjects. Fluorescence anisotropy values of membranes prepared from erythrocytes of diabetic subjects were significantly higher than in control subjects. This indicates a decreased fluidity of membranes prepared from diabetic subjects. The decreased fluidity of diabetic membranes was raised by glycation inhibitors - penicillamine, captopril, and lipoic acid.

Keywords: Erythrocytes, human; Glycation; Membrane fluidity; Penicillamine; Captopril; Lipoic acid; Antiglycation therapy; Diabetes.