[Direct evidence of the role of propionate in choline synthesis in rats].

Wistar rats were injected with 2-14C-propionate in a dose of 30 mu Ci/100 g bw, 2 h after food intake. Two hours after isotope injection the rats were decapitated to determine specific radioactivity (SR) in liver and brain lipids, in liver phosphatidylcholine (PC) and its structural components. The label was incorporated in liver lipids in a far greater amount. In liver PC, SR appeared the highest in glycerin and less higher in the fraction of higher fatty acids. The least amount of the label from 2-14C-propionate was incorporated in choline. The fact of the label incorporation in choline was recorded for the first time.