Effects of acetyl-L-carnitine and myo-inositol on high-energy phosphate and membrane phospholipid metabolism in zebra fish: a 31P-NMR-spectroscopy study.

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) and myo-inositol are reported to enhance motor activity in animal models; modulate membrane phospholipid metabolism (ALCAR and myo-inositol) and high-energy phosphate metabolism (ALCAR) back to normal; and be effective treatments of major depression in humans. Fish in general and zebra fish in particular present unique animal models for the in vivo study of high-energy phosphate and membrane phospholipid metabolism by noninvasive in vivo 31P NMR. This 31P NMR study of free-swimming zebra fish showed that both ALCAR and myo-inositol decreased levels of phosphodiesters and inorganic orthophosphate and increased levels of PCr in the fish. These findings demonstrate both ALCAR and myo-inositol modulate membrane phospholipid and high-energy phosphate metabolism in free-swimming zebra fish.