In the first part of the present study we investigated the effects of pre-natal and early postnatal exposure of mice to high levels of dietary Al3+ on myelin lipid composition and lipid oxidation. We found: (1) a significantly higher (104%; P<0.01) content of brain myelin galactolipids in the high-Al3+ group than in controls, and, (2) a significant correlation (r2=0.70; P<0.01) between the concentration of myelin galactolipids and TBARS (2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) content, a parameter of lipid oxidation. Based on these results, we evaluated in an in vitro model (liposomes) whether galactolipids could affect the capacity of Al3+ to stimulate Fe2+-initiated lipid oxidation, and whether this effect could be due to the promotion of changes in membrane physical properties (membrane phase separation and rigidification). The presence of galactolipids (10-40 mol%) in the liposomes caused a concentration-dependent increase in the stimulatory effect of Al3+ on Fe2+-induced TBARS production, and on the ability of Al3+ to induce phase separation and membrane rigidification. The capacity of Al3+ (10-100 microM) to induce lateral phase separation in liposomes composed of phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylserine/galactolipid (36:24:40, molar ratio) was correlated significantly (r2=0.99; P<0. 001) with the stimulatory action of Al3+ on Fe2+-induced TBARS production. We propose that the high content of galactolipids found in myelin from Al3+-intoxicated mice could favour Al3+-induced changes in membrane physical properties, with the subsequent acceleration of lipid oxidation rates.