title: Postnastal changes in the concentration of carnitine and acylcarnitines in the rat brain.
abstract: The concentration of total and free carnitine (TC and FC) together with short-chain and long-chain acylcarnitines (SCAC and LCAC) has been determined in whole brain of female rats from birth to maturity. The concentration of TC and SCAC increases postnatally to reach a peak 10 days after birth. The concentration of LCAC is high relative to adult brain between 1 and 10 days of age before falling to a low level. The change in LCAC concentration correlates with previously described developmental changes of palmitoyl-CoA: carnitine acyl transferase activity and fatty acid oxidation. The ratio of LCAC/FC declines postnatally while the SCAC/FC ratio is high at birth and increases further in adult brain. The results are consistent with the concepts of carnitine participating in exchange of short-chain acyl groups and in the transfer of fatty acids into mitochondria as an alternative energy supply in neonatal rat brain.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D002331:Carnitine