Effects of brazilin on lipid and phosphatidyl fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

In diabetes, the abnormal increase of the membrane cholesterol/phospholipid ratio (C/PL) is considered to be the main reason for the decreased membrane fluidity, which then results in impaired erythrocyte deformability and subsequent microcirculatory disturbances. In this study, we examined the effects of brazilin on lipid and phosphatidyl fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Treatment of brazilin (10 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg for 2 weeks, i.p) altered phospholipid and cholesterol contents in diabetic erythrocyte membranes. The C/PL ratio of brazilin treated groups decreased compared with that of diabetic control group while no change was observed in normal erythrocytes. In streptozotocin induced diabetic rats, alterations in phosphatidyl fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes were observed and brazilin could reverse these alterations. Arachidonic acid level retumed to a normal level while linoleic acid level remained unchanged by the treatment of brazilin. The results suggest that brazilin might increase erythrocyte membrane fluidity which plays a key role in regulating erythrocyte deformability, thereby it could exert positive effects on microcirculatory disturbances.