Evidence that 5'-cytidinediphosphocholine can affect brain phospholipid composition by increasing choline and cytidine plasma levels

• Published in: Journal of neurochemistry Vol. 65; no. 2; p. 889
• Main Authors: López-Coviella, I, Agut, J, Savci, V, Ortiz, J A, Wurtman, R J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.08.1995
• Subjects: Animals; Brain - metabolism; Choline - blood; Cytidine - blood; Cytidine Diphosphate Choline - pharmacology; Female; Phosphatidylcholines - metabolism; Phosphatidylethanolamines - metabolism; Phosphatidylserines - metabolism; Phospholipids - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0022-3042
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1995.65020889.x

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.