Freeze-etch electron microscopy of erythrocytes, Acholeplasma laidlawii cells and liposomal membranes after the action of filipin and amphotericin B

Abstract

Freeze-etch electron microscopy demonstrated that filipin induces the formation of aggregates 150–250Åin diameter, in the membranes of rat erythrocytes, in cholesterol-containing membranes of Acholeplasma laidlawii cells and in egg lecithin-cholesterol liposomes. No change in fracture faces was observed when cholesterol was absent in the membranes of A. laidlawii, and lecithin liposomes. Amphotericin B does not visibly affect the freeze-etch morphology of erythrocytes, cholesterol-containing A. laidlawii cells and lecithin-cholesterol liposomes.