title: Influence of nicotinic acid on cerebroside synthesis in the brain of developing rats.
abstract: The effect of nicotinic acid on synthesis of cerebroside was studied during brain development. Nicotinic acid concentration in the whole brain and liver of rats fed on nicotinic acid-deficient diet for 10 days after weaning was lower than that of animals fed on nicotinic acid-supplemented diet. The cerebroside concentration was markedly lower and the total lipid concentration was slightly lower in the brain of nicotinic acid-deficient animals than in those receiving nicotinic acid-supplemented diet. Therefore, the ratio of cerebrosides to total lipids of nicotinic acid-deficient rats was significantly lower than that of nicotinic acid-supplemented rats. In nicotinic acid-deficient rats, the ratio of long-chain to short-chain fatty acid (C20-24/C14-18) was decreased in the nonhydroxy fatty acid fraction. Moreover, the ratio of synthesis of cerebrosides with hydroxy fatty acid to nonhydroxy fatty acid of nicotinic acid-deficient rats was higher than that of rats fed on nicotinic acid-supplemented diet. These observations suggest that nicotinic acid affects the synthesis of cerebrosides with nonhydroxy fatty acid.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D002554:Cerebrosides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004032:Diet; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D006900:Hydroxylation; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D009525:Niacin / Q000172:deficiency / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D002554:Cerebrosides; D005227:Fatty Acids; D009525:Niacin