Biochemical compartmentation of fish tissues. IV. Adenine nucleotides and energey charge potential in the brain

Distribution of adenine nucleotides (adenosine triphosphate -- ATP, adenosine diaphosphate -- ADP, adenosine monophosphate -- AMP) and energy charge potential were studied in four different regions of the brain of 9 various fish species. It was found that the cerebellum contained the highest amounts of ATP, ADP and total adenine nucleotides, while the lowest values were detected in the medulla oblongata. There were no statistically significant difference in the distribution of AMP, although its concentration tended to be highest in the medulla oblongata. The snake-headed fishes were shown to have the highest amounts of ATP, ADP and AMP in the brain. These differences in the distribution of adenine nucleotides are probably due to differences in the phylogeny of the studied species, and account for the variable degree of oxidative processes, particulary oxidative phosphorylation, in various parts of the brain.