The influence of CDP-choline on brain lipid metabolism during ischemia.

The intraperitoneal administration of CDP-choline to gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) partially prevented the changes of lipid metabolism found in brain after ischemia due to carotid occlusion. The increase of diglyceride pool and of its content of radioactivity, due to arachidonate labelling, was almost completely corrected by the treatment. The increase of the free fatty acids, due to ischemia, was unaltered. The decrease of the phosphatidylcholine labelling due to ischemia was partially corrected by the administered CDP-choline.