Kinetic analysis of L-carnitine uptake by the choroid plexus.
Choroid plexuses from the lateral (LVCP) and fourth ventricles (FVCP) of rats or rabbits were incubated in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) containing 1 microM [14C]L-carnitine with various concentrations of L-carnitine ranging from 0.01 mM to 1.0 mM. The time course of 1 microM [14C]L-carnitine uptake by the choroid plexus indicated that it increased linearly for the first 15 min. Steady-state levels were reached by 30 min with tissue concentrations more than 20 (FVCP)- to 30 (LVCP)-fold greater than the concentration in the medium. The uptake of [14C]L-carnitine was increased with increasing concentrations of the substrate in the medium and this uptake followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The uptake by the rat choroid plexus took place against a concentration gradient via a saturable process and kinetic analysis revealed Km of 32 microM (LVCP) and 34 microM (FVCP) and Vmax of 21 (LVCP) and 17 nmol/ml/min (FVCP), respectively. Ouabain inhibited the uptake by 51% (FVCP) and 48% (LVCP) and hypothermia (0 degrees C) produced inhibition by 97% (FVCP) and 96% (LVCP), respectively. However, the uptake of L-carnitine was not sensitive to probenecid or tyrosine, which indicates the presence of an independent carrier for L-carnitine in the choroid plexus. Similar results were obtained with the rabbit choroid plexus.
Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill 27599.
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Roe
D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002331:Carnitine / Q000378:metabolism*; D002831:Choroid Plexus / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D011339:Probenecid / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D011865:Radioisotope Dilution Technique; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013045:Species Specificity; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000494:pharmacology
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D014443:Tyrosine; D010042:Ouabain; D011339:Probenecid; D002331:Carnitine