Effect of fatty acids on the membrane fluidity of cultured chick dorsal root ganglion measured by fluorescence photobleaching recovery.

The effect of fatty acids on the membrane fluidity in tissue cultured chick embryo dorsal root ganglion was studied by fluorescence recovery method. Lateral motion of the lipid was measured by observing the fluorescent probe, 5-(octadecylthiocarbamoylamino) fluorescence, F18. The effective lateral diffusion coefficient of the membrane was around 0.30 X 10(-8) cm2/sec in control cells, 0.42 X 10(-8) cm2/sec in 2-decenoic acid treated cells, and 0.35 X 10(-8) cm2/sec in valeric acid treated cells. From these results it is concluded that effective mobilities of the membrane complex increased about 40% by the external application of 2-decenoic acid, while valeric acid increased it only 12%. From the physiological results that 2-decenoic acid inhibits the Na-channel, it is suggested that this increase in the membrane fluidity might affect the Na-channel.