Lipid Fluidity as an Essential Therapeutic Tool for Cell Pathology

Abstract

It is known that the decrease of Na+ gradients on cell membrane is a common consequence of cell pathology. According to the classical membrane theory, low permeability of cell membrane for Na+ and high permeability for K+ are the main reasons for asymmetric distribution of inorganic ions between intraand extra-cellular mediums and generation of Membrane Potential (MP) [1]. However, this theory is unable to explain the mechanism of the metabolic control of semi-permeable properties of cell membrane for inorganic ions, which are disturbed in cell pathology. Our previous work, performed on squid axons and snail neurons, has shown that water efflux from the cells has inactivation effect on inward Na+ and Ca2+ currents and activation effect on outward K+ currents, while the water uptake has opposite effect on them [2].