Abstract:
1. 1. The rate of passage of proteins and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was measured in vitelline membranes from control and ethylene dibromide (EDB)-treated hens. 2. 2. The rate constant of the EDB group was lower than that of the control with all proteins tested. The effect of EDB on passage rate increased with the molecular weight of proteins. In contrast, the transfer of PVP was faster in the EDB group than in the control. 3. 3. The free amino groups of membranes from the EDB-group showed a decrease from the control when tested by fluorodinitrobenzene, but did not differ from the control by glutaraldehyde. No effect on SH groups was found. 4. 4. It is assumed that EDB changes the permeability by altering the structure of the membrane rather than by chemical binding to its constituents. © 1980.