The Effects of Oxidative Stress on Neuronal Membrane Permeability and Redox Sensitive Transport Mechanisms
Abstract
Lipid peroxidation is a symptom of aging that is suspected to cause undesirable alterations to membrane properties. These alterations are postulated to induce membranes defects, which negatively affect aspects of cells and hinders their functionality. Neuronal plasma membranes contain constituents that are particularly susceptible to oxidative species; therefore, they are prime targets for lipid peroxidation. Neurons from Lymnaea stagnalis were used in combination with various fluorescent probes to assess membrane hydrophobic barrier function to exclude the entry of ionic molecules through unassisted means. However, instead of exclusively probing passive permeability, it was discovered that various forms of active membrane transport processes in neuronal membranes may also be regulated by redox reactions. Contrary to suggestions from modeling studies, lipid peroxidation appeared to only slightly alter passive membrane permeability, suggesting that biological membranes may contain certain constituents and/or mechanisms that prevents lipid peroxidation from being as detrimental as observed under artificial conditions.
Description
Keywords
Education--Sciences, Animal Physiology, Biology--Cell, Neuroscience, Physiology, Zoology
Citation
Perry, A. (2017). The Effects of Oxidative Stress on Neuronal Membrane Permeability and Redox Sensitive Transport Mechanisms (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/28110