Fluorescence anisotropy of kidney lipids and membranes of a hibernating mammal.

The fluorescence anisotropy of lipids and membranes isolated from kidneys of European hamsters (Cricetus cricetus L.) has been estimated using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene as a probe. We have compared in this study the results obtained for two critical periods for a hibernator: winter (torpid state), and summer (active state). The differences were of very low magnitude. A slight increase in anisotropy was noticed in the kidney lipids and microsomal membrane preparations from torpid animals. In contrast, a small decrease in anisotropy was observed in the microsomal lipid extracts of torpid animals. A difference in triglyceride content of winter and summer total kidney lipids was detected, as well as a difference in microsomal protein content between winter and summer membrane preparations. It is hypothesized that the latter observations may explain why the behavior of kidney total lipids and microsomal preparations were different from that presented by kidney microsomal lipids in respect to fluorescence anisotropy. Therefore, only a little, if any, homeoviscous adaptation is exhibited by kidney membranes during hibernation of this mammal.