Chronic Ethanol Consumption Alters Effects of Ethanol In Vitro on Brain Membrane Structure of High Alcohol Sensitivity and Low Alcohol Sensitivity Rats

In this study, we examined if differences in initial membrane sensitivity to ethanol were associated with development of membrane tolerance to ethanol. High Alcohol Sensitivity (HAS) and Low Alcohol Sensitivity (US) rats were administered a 15% ethanol solution in water as the sole source of fluid for 30 days. The amount of ethanol consumed per day did not significantly differ between the HAS and LAS rats. Development of membrane tolerance to in vitro effects of ethanol has been previously reported for bulk membrane fluidity and protein‐lipid interaction. Our data expands the understanding of “membrane tolerance” phenomenon to protein distribution and bi‐layer interdigitation. We also introduce genotype‐dependent and genotype‐independent properties of the membrane tolerance to ethanol. Chronic ethanol treatment produced genotype‐dependent and genotype‐independent membrane tolerance to ethanol. The in vitro effects of ethanol on synaptic plasma membrane (SPM) protein distribution and lipid bilayer interdigitation were abolished or decreased in the SPM of chronic ethanol‐treated HAS rats, as compared with the SPM of HAS control rats (genotype‐dependent tolerance). Protein distribution and bilayer interdigitation were not affected by ethanol in vitro in either chronic ethanol‐treated or control LAS rats. Genotype‐independent tolerance to ethanol in vitro was observed for SPM annular and bulk bilayer fluidity in chronic ethanol‐treated HAS and LAS rats. It is concluded that initial sensitivity to ethanol contributes to the development of membrane tolerance to ethanol in HAS and LAS rats.