Chronic ethanol administration induced an increase in phosphatidylserine in guinea pig synaptic plasma membranes.

Chronic ethanol administration to guinea pigs via intragastric intubation elicited a specific increase (50%) in phosphatidylserine in the synaptic plasma membrane. The ethanol-treated group also showed a 53% increase in synaptosomal (Na,K)-ATPase activity. Analysis of the acyl group composition of individual phospholipids in the same membrane fraction revealed only small changes which varied depending on the type of phospholipids. Since the (Na,K)-ATPase is known to be specifically activated by phosphatidylserine, the adaptive increase in enzyme activity during chronic ethanol treatment may be related to the increase in this type of negatively charged phospholipid.