[Effect of corticosteroids on the fluorescence of aniline naphthalenesulfonate in mitochondria after changes in temperature].

The influence of corticosteroid hormones and cholesterol on the anilinonaphthalenesulfonate (ANS-) fluorescence in the rat liver mitochondria at different temperatures has been studied. The fluorescence intensity has been found to decrease by warming and increase by cooling the mitochondrial suspension. The steroids studied in proportion to their hydrophobic nature decreased the ANS- fluorescence at 25 degrees C and increased it at 5 degrees C, i.e. at higher and lower temperatures of the phase transition of the membrane lipids. It has been concluded that steroid hormones influence the fluidity of the mitochondrial membranes.