Modulating neuronal plasticity with choline

Because of the multiple biological functions that choline subserves, it can be hypothesized that the modulation of neuronal plasticity by choline be due to one or more of its physiological roles. [...]choline deficiency has been shown to impair brain mitochondrial function, increase rate of protein oxidation, and thereby affect motor and learning behaviours in rats (Pacelli et al., 2010). Besides relieving oxidative stress, the first oxidative product of choline, betaine, is necessary for the formation of S-adenosylmethionine, a major methyl group donor. Since much of the function of a neuron is attributable to its morphology which aids the shaping, filtering, and isolating of individual synaptic responses at their site of generation, a compound with the capability of modulating neuronal morphology, such as choline, can greatly influence neurotransmission. Besides its use as a building block of membranes, phospholipid metabolites of choline can have other bio-signaling functions. Despite the many important roles choline-containing phospholipids are described to play in a neuron, it remains unclear whether the supplemented choline restored deficits of particular lipid metabolites in the cellular lipid pool, or if it boosted the levels of key metabolites that may have greater bioactivity. [...]it would be intriguing to identify the main choline metabolites responsible for the improvement in neuronal function.