Evidence that 5'-cytidinediphosphocholine can affect brain phospholipid composition by increasing choline and cytidine plasma levels.
We examined the effects of orally administered 5'-cytidinediphosphocholine (CDP-choline) on arterial plasma choline and cytidine levels and on brain phospholipid composition in rats. Animals receiving a single oral dose of 100, 250, or 500 mg/kg showed peak plasma choline levels 6-8 h after drug administration (from 12 +/- 1 to 17 +/- 2, 19 +/- 2, and 24 +/- 2 microM, respectively). The area under the plasma choline curve at > 14 microM, i.e., at a concentration that induces a net influx of choline into the brain, was significantly correlated with CDP-choline dose. In rats receiving 500 mg/kg this area was 2.3 times that of animals consuming 250 mg/kg, which in turn was 1.8 times that of rats receiving 100 mg/kg. Plasma cytidine concentrations increased 5.4, 6.5, and 15.1 times baseline levels, respectively, 8 h after each of the three doses. When the oral CDP-choline treatment was prolonged for 42 and 90 days, brain phosphatidylcholine concentrations increased significantly (by 22-25%; p < 0.05) in rats consuming 500 mg/kg/day. Brain phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine concentrations also increased significantly under some experimental conditions; levels of other phospholipids were unchanged.
López-Coviella
I
I
Department of Physiology, University of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
Agut
J
J
Savci
V
V
Ortiz
J A
JA
Wurtman
R J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002794:Choline / Q000097:blood*; D003562:Cytidine / Q000097:blood*; D003566:Cytidine Diphosphate Choline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000378:metabolism; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000378:metabolism; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors
D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D010743:Phospholipids; D003566:Cytidine Diphosphate Choline; D003562:Cytidine; D002794:Choline