Author:
Slow S,Lever M,Chambers ST,George PM
Abstract
Tissue betaine is an intracellular osmolyte that also provides a
store of labile methyl groups. Despite these important biological
roles, there are few data regarding tissue betaine content. We
measured the betaine concentration of plasma and various
tissues (brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidney, spleen, intestine,
reproductive tissues, skeletal muscle and skin) in male and
female rats and assessed whether there were any gender-specific
differences in betaine content or distribution and whether there
was any relationship between tissue accumulation and plasma
levels. Betaine was highest in the liver and kidney with values
ranging from 1.6 to 9.5 mmol/l and 2.0 to 5.4 mmol/l,
respectively. Plasma betaine concentrations were significantly
lower than tissue levels except in the brain (≈ 25 % of plasma)
and skeletal muscle (similar to plasma). Regression analysis of
the combined male and female data revealed a significant
plasma-related accumulation of betaine in the heart, skin and
skeletal muscle, while the lung, liver, kidney, spleen, and
intestine showed significant plasma-related and plasmaindependent accumulations of betaine. The betaine content of
the skin, liver and kidney was not significantly different between
males and females, but in plasma and all tissues analyzed it was
significantly higher in males (P<0.01).
Publisher
Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Subject
General Medicine,Physiology
Cited by
87 articles.
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