Influence of ethanol on fatty acid composition of phospholipids in cultured neurons.

Animals chronically exposed to ethanol show changes in neural membrane lipids which may underlie the development of tolerance and physical dependence. The object of this study was to investigate changes in the fatty acid composition of neuronal phospholipids cultured in the presence of ethanol (55 or 110 mM) for periods up to 7 days. Decreases were observed in the percentage of individual and total saturated fatty acids, while the double bond index: total saturated fatty acid ratio, increased. These changes do not support the hypothesis that neural membrane lipid composition changes to counteract the fluidizing action of ethanol.