The role of membrane fluidity changes and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances production in the inhibition of cerebral cortex Na+/K+-ATPase activity.

Lipid peroxidation of rat cerebral cortex membranes was induced by Fe2+/ADP and ascorbate. The rate of Na+/K(+)-ATPase inhibition was correlated with the increase of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and conjugated dienes (CD) and with membrane fluidity changes. Our data showed that membrane fluidity changes (evaluated by fluorescence steady-state anisotropy measurements) can participate in Na+/K(+)-ATPase inhibition during the initial period of lipid peroxidation process, whereas during the following period the enzyme inhibition correlates only with TBARS and CD production.