Effects of antibacterial drugs on the total cholesterol balance of cholesterol-fed mice

Mice were fed a diet containing 1.5% cholesterol, and the total cholesterol balance and the distribution of the consumed sterol among excreta, liver, and carcass were determined, using experimental periods of 9–14 days. It was observed that an average of approximately 12% of the cholesterol was either destroyed or chemically modified. When, however, 1% sulfasuxidine and 0.04% streptomycin were added to the diet, all the sterol “put in” was recovered, within the limits of error of the method. These results were tentatively interpreted to indicate that under the conditions of these experiments, microorganisms of the intestine were primarily responsible for the destruction or modification of the consumed sterol, as observed in the absence of antibacterial drugs.     

Effect of the phase state of lipids on their interaction with cobra cytotoxin

Interaction between cytotoxin of the Central Asia cobra venom and dimiristoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer depending on its phase state was studied by ESR with spin label. A conclusion can be drawn that the efficiency of cytotoxin effect on the membranes depends on their phase state. Cytotoxin molecules are incorporated into myophile region of the bilayer, only if the latter is in the liquid crystal state. The interaction between cytotoxins and lipids of the bilayer in a gel state is in the main conditioned by electrostatic forces.