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The effects of alcohols on pinocytosis and proteolysis in the rat yolk sac in vitro

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Abstract

This thesis Investigates the effects of two alcohols, ethanol and benzyl alcohol, on the process of endocytosis In the rat visceral yolk sac In vitro. In Chapter 1, the process of endocytosis is introduced and the structure and function of the rat visceral yolk sac are described. The chapter is concluded by a review of the widespread effects of ethanol on cellular functions. The data reported In the first experimental chapter indicate that ethanol is a rapid but readily reversible inhibitor of fluid-phase pinocytosis. The data are extended in Chapter 4 to include the effects of ethanol on adsorptive-phase pinocytosis and Intralysosonal proteolysis. The latter chapter also introduces the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and the role of the rat visceral yolk sac In the process of embryotrophic nutrition. The effects of ethanol on pinocytosis at different gestational ages are reported in Chapter S; the alcohol-induced inhibition of fluid-phase pinocytosis increases as the gestational age of the yolk sacs decreases from 19.5 to 13.5 days, while inhibition of adsorptive-phase pinocytosis Is greater at 13.5 days than at 17.5 days of gestation.
The effects of benzyl alcohol (a preservative in a number of phanaaceutical formulations) on pinocytosis Is reported In Chapter 7. The results indicate that the rat visceral yolk sac is more sensitive to the aromatic alcohol than the aliphatic alcohol. In Chapter 7, the effects of ethanol and benzyl alcohol on the endosomal compartment and the intracellular handling of endocytosed substrates are reported and discussed and a cellular mechanism of inhibition of pinocytosis by
alcohols is suggested.
Finally, In Chapter 8, the possible biochemical mechanism(s) of action of ethanol are discussed together with ideas for extending the research.

Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024

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