Role of lipid-induced changes in plasma membrane in the biophysical shunt theory of psychopathology

• Published in: Medical hypotheses Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 277 - 280
• Main Authors: Naisberg, Y., Weizman, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-04-1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biophysical Phenomena; Biophysics; Cell Membrane - physiology; Cholesterol - physiology; Humans; Ion Channels - physiology; Medical sciences; Membrane Fluidity; Membrane Lipids - physiology; Mental Disorders - physiopathology; Miscellaneous; Models, Neurological; Models, Psychological; Neurons - physiology; Phospholipids - physiology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Techniques and methods; Human; Nervous system diseases; Lipemia; Pathophysiology; Etiology; Risk factor; Plasma membrane; Metabolic activation; Metabolic diseases; Lipids; Psychopathology; Hypothesis
• ISSN: 0306-9877; 1532-2777
• DOI: 10.1016/S0306-9877(97)90229-2

The existence of a lipid factor that either causes faulty lipid metabolism or directly contributes to the emergence of a biophysical shunt in neuronal membrane ionic flow propagation is proposed. The neuronal membrane contains a remarkable amount of phospholipids, glycolipids and cholesterol. It is assumed that, under certain unfavorable intrinsic states, the plasma membrane's lipid order and composition and, consequently, its cholesterol-to-phospholipid ratio, may change. This, in turn, may significantly modify membrane fluidity, altering the essential physical properties in the affected portions of the membrane and causing a disarray in the adjacent ion channels, leading to the establishment of a biophysical shunt in a loop-like operation, forming the basis for a variety of mental disorders. The present model offers a diet-induced lipid correction for th e relief of psychopathological problems.