The effect of alpha-tocopherol and ionol on the physical structure of the membranes of rat liver microsomes under conditions of antioxidant insufficiency

Physiochemical conformity of the alpha-tocopherol interaction with hepatic microsomal membranes has been studied by means of fluorescent probes (pyrene and 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulphonate). The microsomal membrane microviscosity is shown to sharply decrease under conditions of the antioxidant deficiency with vitamin E expelled into animals normalizes microviscosity, but feebly influences the microsomal surface charge. Microcalorimetry has been used to establish that penetration of tocopherol into microsomal membranes was accompanied by the exothermic effect.