Brain cholesterol content, variations

FIGURE 4.3 Transbilayer variations of cholesterol content in brain membranes. (A) In young individuals, cholesterol is enriched in the cytoplasmic leaflet of the plasma membrane, both in Upid rafts (Lo phase) and in the bulk membrane (Ld phase). (B) In older subjects, cholesterol is less abundant in the cytosolic leaflet and occurs in higher amounts in the exofacial leaflet, espedaUy in the Ld phase where it may exert a rigidifying effect. 

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