The study of phospholipid bilayer of cell membranes in leukocytes incubated with high concentrations of the food additive E407a

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of semi-refined carrageenan (E407a) on the hydrophobic region of phospholipid bilayer in cell membranes of leukocytes exposed to the solution with high concentrations of this food additive. Material and methods: Fluorescent probe (2-phenylphenanthro[ 9,10-d]-1,3-oxazole) was used to investigate the influence of E407a on the state of lipid bilayer in leukocytes extracted from rats and treated with a 5% solution of the food additive E407a during 4 hours. Results: The shapes of the probe fluorescence spectra did not differ in leukocytes of rats treated with the 5% solution of semi-refined carrageenan and white blood cells of control samples. Such findings suggest that exposure to the E407a solution causes no changes in the proton-donor ability of the media in the lipid membranes of leukocytes in the region where the probe locates. Conclusion: Exposure of white blood cell suspensions to the semirefined carrageenan solution does not affect the membrane hydration of the hydrophobic region of leukocyte phospholipid bilayer.