Biomaterial Database

Carnitine, carnitine acetyltransferase, and glutathione in Alzheimer brain. 1995

T K Makar, and A J Cooper, and B Tofel-Grehl, and H T Thaler, and J P Blass

Department of Biochemistry, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA.

Glutathione and "total" carnitine (i.e., free carnitine plus acid-soluble carnitine esters) were measured in an affected (superior frontal gyrus; SFG) and unaffected (cerebellum: CBL) region of Alzheimer disease (AD) and control brains. Average glutathione content in AD SFG (n = 13) and AD CBL (n = 7) (7.9 +/- 2.1 and 11.9 +/- 4.0 nmol/mg protein, respectively (mean +/- S.D.)) was similar to that in control SFG (n = 13) and CBL (n = 6) (7.7 +/- 2.0 and 11.6 +/- 2.6 nmol/mg protein, respectively). However, glutathione increased significantly with age in AD brain (p = 0.003) but not in control brain. Average total carnitine in AD SFG (84 +/- 47 pmol/mg protein; n = 10) and AD CBL (108 +/- 86 pmol/mg protein; n = 7) was not significantly different from that in the corresponding regions of control brain (148 +/- 97 (n = 10) and 144 +/- 107 (n = 6) pmol/mg protein, respectively). However, a significant decline of total carnitine with age in both regions was noted for AD brain, but not for control brain. Carnitine acetyltransferase activity in the AD SFG (n = 13) was not significantly different from that of control SFG (n = 13) (1.83 +/- 1.05 and 2.04 +/- 0.82 nmol/min/mg protein, respectively). However, carnitine acetyltransferase activity of AD CBL (n = 7) was significantly lower than that of control CBL (n = 6) (1.33 +/- 0.88 versus 2.26 +/- 0.66 nmol/min/mg protein; p = 0.05).

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D012016	Reference Values	The range or frequency distribution of a measurement in a population (of organisms, organs or things) that has not been selected for the presence of disease or abnormality.	Normal Range,Normal Values,Reference Ranges,Normal Ranges,Normal Value,Range, Normal,Range, Reference,Ranges, Normal,Ranges, Reference,Reference Range,Reference Value,Value, Normal,Value, Reference,Values, Normal,Values, Reference
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D001923	Brain Chemistry	Changes in the amounts of various chemicals (neurotransmitters, receptors, enzymes, and other metabolites) specific to the area of the central nervous system contained within the head. These are monitored over time, during sensory stimulation, or under different disease states.	Chemistry, Brain,Brain Chemistries,Chemistries, Brain
D002331	Carnitine	A constituent of STRIATED MUSCLE and LIVER. It is an amino acid derivative and an essential cofactor for fatty acid metabolism.	Bicarnesine,L-Carnitine,Levocarnitine,Vitamin BT,L Carnitine
D002332	Carnitine O-Acetyltransferase	An enzyme that catalyzes the formation of O-acetylcarnitine from acetyl-CoA plus carnitine. EC 2.3.1.7.	Carnitine Acetyltransferase,Carnitine-Acetyl-CoA-Transferase,Acetyltransferase, Carnitine,Carnitine Acetyl CoA Transferase,Carnitine O Acetyltransferase,O-Acetyltransferase, Carnitine
D002531	Cerebellum	The part of brain that lies behind the BRAIN STEM in the posterior base of skull (CRANIAL FOSSA, POSTERIOR). It is also known as the "little brain" with convolutions similar to those of CEREBRAL CORTEX, inner white matter, and deep cerebellar nuclei. Its function is to coordinate voluntary movements, maintain balance, and learn motor skills.	Cerebella,Corpus Cerebelli,Parencephalon,Cerebellums,Parencephalons
D005260	Female		Females
D005978	Glutathione	A tripeptide with many roles in cells. It conjugates to drugs to make them more soluble for excretion, is a cofactor for some enzymes, is involved in protein disulfide bond rearrangement and reduces peroxides.	Reduced Glutathione,gamma-L-Glu-L-Cys-Gly,gamma-L-Glutamyl-L-Cysteinylglycine,Glutathione, Reduced,gamma L Glu L Cys Gly,gamma L Glutamyl L Cysteinylglycine
D006179	Gyrus Cinguli	One of the convolutions on the medial surface of the CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES. It surrounds the rostral part of the brain and CORPUS CALLOSUM and forms part of the LIMBIC SYSTEM.	Anterior Cingulate Gyrus,Brodmann Area 23,Brodmann Area 24,Brodmann Area 26,Brodmann Area 29,Brodmann Area 30,Brodmann Area 31,Brodmann Area 32,Brodmann Area 33,Brodmann's Area 23,Brodmann's Area 24,Brodmann's Area 26,Brodmann's Area 29,Brodmann's Area 30,Brodmann's Area 31,Brodmann's Area 32,Brodmann's Area 33,Cingulate Gyrus,Gyrus Cinguli Anterior,Retrosplenial Complex,Retrosplenial Cortex,Anterior Cingulate,Anterior Cingulate Cortex,Cingular Gyrus,Cingulate Area,Cingulate Body,Cingulate Cortex,Cingulate Region,Gyrus, Cingulate,Posterior Cingulate,Posterior Cingulate Cortex,Posterior Cingulate Gyri,Posterior Cingulate Gyrus,Posterior Cingulate Region,Superior Mesial Regions,24, Brodmann Area,Anterior Cingulate Cortices,Anterior Cingulates,Anterior, Gyrus Cinguli,Anteriors, Gyrus Cinguli,Area 23, Brodmann,Area 23, Brodmann's,Area 24, Brodmann,Area 24, Brodmann's,Area 26, Brodmann,Area 26, Brodmann's,Area 29, Brodmann,Area 29, Brodmann's,Area 30, Brodmann,Area 30, Brodmann's,Area 31, Brodmann,Area 31, Brodmann's,Area 32, Brodmann,Area 32, Brodmann's,Area 33, Brodmann,Area 33, Brodmann's,Area, Cingulate,Body, Cingulate,Brodmanns Area 23,Brodmanns Area 24,Brodmanns Area 26,Brodmanns Area 29,Brodmanns Area 30,Brodmanns Area 31,Brodmanns Area 32,Brodmanns Area 33,Cingulate Areas,Cingulate Bodies,Cingulate Cortex, Anterior,Cingulate Cortex, Posterior,Cingulate Gyrus, Anterior,Cingulate Gyrus, Posterior,Cingulate Region, Posterior,Cingulate Regions,Cingulate, Anterior,Cingulate, Posterior,Cinguli Anterior, Gyrus,Cinguli Anteriors, Gyrus,Complex, Retrosplenial,Cortex, Anterior Cingulate,Cortex, Cingulate,Cortex, Posterior Cingulate,Cortex, Retrosplenial,Gyrus Cinguli Anteriors,Gyrus, Anterior Cingulate,Gyrus, Cingular,Gyrus, Posterior Cingulate,Posterior Cingulate Cortices,Posterior Cingulate Regions,Posterior Cingulates,Region, Cingulate,Region, Posterior Cingulate,Retrosplenial Complices,Retrosplenial Cortices,Superior Mesial Region