Membrane potential of cells and its regulation during aging. 1. Report: the role of energetic metabolism and plasma membrane phospholipid contents.

Age-dependent changes in the polarization of the plasma membranes (PM) of various cell types and the mechanisms responsible for its regulation were studied in the experiments on the adult (6-8 months) and old (28-32 months) Wistar male rats. The relationship was found between the specificity of cellular function and the pattern of changes in resting potential (RP) and action potential (AP). In senility, changes occur in the ratio of different pathways of energy provision of the ionic transport: the contribution made by enzymic reactions to the mechanism of maintenance of the PM polarization level is diminished. Changes in the PM phospholipid composition influences considerably the character of the PM electric reactions in aging. An anti-oxidant, dibunol (butilated hydroxytoluene, BHT) has appeared to restore many reactions of the cellular PM in the old animals.