title: Citicoline (CDP-choline): mechanisms of action and effects in ischemic brain injury.
abstract: Citicoline is approved in Europe and Japan for use in stroke, head trauma and other neurological disorders. It is presently being evaluated in phase II/III stroke trials in the United States. Exogenous administration of CDP-choline provides both choline and cytidine which access the brain and serve as substrates for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, a primary neuronal membrane component; the choline also enhances brain acetylcholine synthesis. Membrane repair and regeneration is necessary for recovery from stroke. Furthermore, citicoline may alleviate free fatty acid-induced toxicity which accompanies ischemic insult. Data from many pre-clinical and clinical trials support the hypothesis that citicoline may be a safe and effective treatment for stroke.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003566:Cytidine Diphosphate Choline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D003566:Cytidine Diphosphate Choline