The distribution and role of carnitine in the mammalian brain

Abstract

A differential distribution of carnitine was found in twelve microdissected areas of the frozen canine brain. The cerebellar cortex showed the highest level of carnitine, while the lowest amounts were found in the hippocampus and pons sections of the brain. However, the inability to demonstrate changes in carnitine levels after $\text{in vivo}$ stimulation of the major afferent pathways in the caudate nucleus, and failure to demonstrate K+ stimulated release of carnitine in rat brain slices suggest that carnitine does not have a direct neurotransmitter role in the brain.