Carnitine analysis in normal human red blood cells, plasma, and muscle tissue.
We studied the distribution of carnitine in different compartments of the human body. Esterified and nonesterified carnitine was determined in plasma, red blood cells, and muscle tissue of 25 patients with clinically and biochemically normal carnitine metabolism. We found a close correlation of plasma and muscle carnitine, but carnitine in red blood cells seems to represent a carnitine compartment of its own. It is probably less related with fatty acid metabolism of the mitochondria than with cell membrane stabilization or buffer function for Na-K-ATPase.
Reichmann
H
H
Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, FRG.
van Lindeneiner
N
N
D000328:Adult; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values
D009124:Muscle Proteins; D002331:Carnitine