Pathways of beta-hydroxybutyrate contribution to metabolism of acetyl-CoA and acetylcholine in rat brain nerve terminals.

beta-hydroxybutyrate increased concentration of acetyl-CoA in mitochondria of resting and in cytoplasm of Ca-activated rat brain synaptosomes. Adequate rise of Ca-evoked acetylcholine release was also observed. The activation was abolished by verapamil. It indicates that beta-hydroxybutyrate-derived acetyl-CoA is transported from mitochondria to synaptoplasm by direct Ca-dependent transport mechanism. Presented data evidence that level of synaptoplasmic acetyl-CoA plays an important role in the regulation of cholinergic activity in the brain.