The Effect of Fibrillar Aβ1-40 on Membrane Fluidity and Permeability

The time course of Aβ fibril formation was characterized using a variety of assays. The effect of Aβ on the membrane fluidity and permeability was assessed by monitoring the anisotropy of the fluorescent probe DPH and TMA-DPH and measuring the release of vesicle-entrapped with three different molecular weight fluorescence probes (ANTS / DPX, Calcein, FD-4). The results show fibrils had formed after 4 days. Aggregated Aβmay decrease the membrane fluidity and induce the leakage of ANTS and Calcein in a dose -dependent manner. These effects may have some relation with Aβ neurotoxicity.