The effect of the administration of ethanol to rats on the thermal sensitivity of transplantable tumours

Abstract

1. Long-term maintenance of rats on a diet containing ethanol did not cause compensatory changes in brain synaptic membrane lipid composition, nor was there any change in membrane lipid order as measured by steady-state fluorescence polarization of DPH.

2. The lipid composition of MC7 tumour plasma membranes was also determined in ethanol-fed and then sucrose pair-fed controls. Dietary ethanol caused no change in the composition of phospholipid classes. There was, however, a tendency for an increase in C₁₈ fatty acids and an increase in monounsaturated at the expense of unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. There was no significant change in cholesterol content.

3. Tumour membranes from ethanol-fed rats were not different in lipid order from their pair-fed controls. Tumour membranes were, however, significantly less ordered than synaptic membranes.

4. A single heat treatment of 44°C for 1 h increased the survival time of rats bearing both MC7 and D23 foot tumours. No difference in their survival was seen between ethanol-fed and sucrose pair-fed controls.