[Determination of the surface area and viscosity of membranes in T- and B-lymphocytes by means of fluorescent probes].

The surface area of lymphocyte membranes was measured by registering Förster's energy transfer on fluorescent probes. Pyrene served as donor, 4-(n-hydroxystyryl)-N-tetradecylpiridinium (HSP) was the acceptor. The surface area B-lymphocyte membranes was shown to be 1,2 times larger than that of T-lymphocytes. The mean value of lymphocyte membranes viscosity was measured using the excimerization effect of pyrene. This value was the same in all the cells investigated Fluorescence of the probe 3-methoxybenzanthrone (MBA) was 2-2.5 times higher in B-lymphocytes and was not proportional to the surface area of T- and B-cells membranes. MBA fluorescence may imply some differences in physical structures of these cells which are not connected with the viscosity of their membrane lipid phase.