The effect of amino acids on choline uptake and phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in mammalian hearts.

The uptake of choline in mammalian hearts in the presence of amino acids was examined. Isolated hamster, guinea pig, rat and rabbit hearts were perfused with labeled choline in the presence and absence of amino acids. Neutral amino acids enhanced choline uptake in the hamster heart, but not in the guinea pig, rat and rabbit hearts. Phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in these hearts was not affected by the presence of amino acids. Choline uptake in the hamster myocytes was also enhanced by neutral amino acid. The enhancement of choline uptake suggests a direct interaction between the amino acid and the transport of choline into the myocardiac cells. The different responses in choline uptake to neutral amino acids indicate that the regulation of choline uptake in the hearts may be different between mammalian species.