The effect of 3-methylindole on the uptake and incorporation of 14C-choline into phospholipids in lung tissue slices.
3-Methylindole (3MI) is the causative agent in the development of acute bovine pulmonary edema. Microscopic studies revealed a structural disruption in the lamellar bodies of type II cells, indicating an abnormal metabolism of phospholipid in the lung of 3MI treated animals. In the present study, lung slices from 4 goats were used to investigate the changes in phosphatidylcholine metabolism induced by 3MI. Eighteen slices were cut from each healthy lung and divided into control and 3MI groups. After a 4-hr pretreatment with 3MI (.19 or .57 mM) or carrier, the level of incorporation of 14C-choline into phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin and their water soluble intermediates was studied. The uptake of 14C-choline and its incorporation into phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin was depressed by 3MI treatment. In the water soluble fractions, the radioactivity increased in free choline and CDP-choline, while it decreased in P-choline. This suggests that choline kinase and the P-choline transferases have become relatively more rate limiting and may play a role in the depressed de novo synthesis of phosphatidylcholine induced by 3MI.
D000818:Animals; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D006041:Goats; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000209:etiology; D012862:Skatole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000096:biosynthesis
D007211:Indoles; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010743:Phospholipids; D013109:Sphingomyelins; D012862:Skatole; D002794:Choline