[Lipid content of mitochondrial membranes of the rat liver in alloxan diabetes].

Lipid content of liver mitochondrial membranes was studied in rats with alloxan diabetes. It was shown that the concentration of mitochondrial neutral lipids rose, whereas phospholipid content in the external membrane descended and that in the internal membrane ascended. The level of mitochondrial phospholipid saturated fatty acids tended toward increase. Phospholipid-composing phosphatidylserine and cardiolipin underwent the greatest changes. It is suggested that in alloxan diabetes, the mitochondrial membrane becomes more rigid at the expense of high cholesterol and saturated fatty acid concentrations. The changes in phospholipid content seem to be due to endogenous phospholipase activation.