Abstract
Electron micrograph of rabbit choroid plexus of the 4th ventricle incubated for 60 min. in control artificial CSF shows the apical surface of the cuboidal cells is lined by polypoid microvilli. The cytoplasm contains ribosomes and some channels of rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum. The mitochondria are numerous. They contain closely packed transverse cristae and some dense granules in their matrix. In contrast, there was extensive ultrastructural damage to choroid plexus incubated for 60 min. in the medium containing either 0.1mM or 1.OmM octanoate. Octanoate produced cytoplasmic swelling, accumulation of fatty acid droplets, endoplasmic reticulum was randomly dispersed, and most striking was the extent of mitochondrial swelling and disruption of cristae. Additional damage was seen in the microvilli and increased collagen deposition was noted compared to control. The higher concentration of octanoate produced even more disruption of mitochondria. Octanoylcarnitine and L-carnitine produced little alteration of ultrastructure compared to octanoate. The absence of ultrastructural impairment with octanoylcarnitine suggests a role for L-carnitine in protecting the CNS through formation of the non-toxic acylcarnitines in metabolic disorders characterized by accumulation of encephalopathic metabolites. Supported in part by USPHS grant HD03110.
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Kim, C., Dorgan, D. & Roe, C. ULTRASTRUCTURAL EFFECTS OF L-CARNITINE, OCTANOYLCARNITINE AND OCTANOATE ON CHOROID PLEXUS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 378 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01710
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01710