EFFECTS OF CDP-CHOLINE ADMINISTRATION ON BRAIN STRIATUM PLATELET-ACTIVATING-FACTOR IN AGING RATS

Cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine (CDP-choline) is a precursor in platelet- activating factor (PAF) biosynthesis and it is used in the treatment o f diseases of the central nervous system. PAF levels in the striatum o f aged (19 months) rats were 67% lower than those found in young (2 mo nths) animals. Chronic treatment of aged rats with CDP-choline (500 mg /kg per day) reduced these PAF levels by more than 65% with respect to those of untreated aged rats after 8 days of treatment. PAF subsequen tly stabilized at these low levels as treatment continued. These resul ts suggest that some effects of CDP-choline could be mediated by chang es in brain PAF levels. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.