Effect of long-term aluminum feeding on lipid/phospholipid profiles of rat brain synaptic plasma membranes and microsomes

Long-term exposure to AlCl3 resulted in 57% decrease in the total phospholipid (TPL) content of synaptic plasma membranes from rat brain with significant decrease in the proportion and content of most of the phospholipid classes (32%-77% decrease); the extent of decreases was of lesser magnitude for phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). The microsomal TPL and cholesterol (CHL) content decreased by 74% and 35% with marginal changes in the phospholipid composition. However, the contents of all phospholipids decreased uniformly by about 70%. The synaptic plasma membranes were more fluidized in Al fed rats. The results suggest that long-term exposure of rats to Al can alter the structure/function of synaptic plasma membranes and microsomes.