Choline. A nutrient that is involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, cell death, and cell transformation.

Choline deficiency causes hepatocyte proliferation, apoptosis and transformation. Thus, it is an excellent model in which to study the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes. Several interesting questions can be addressed.

Glycerophosphocholine and phosphocholine are the major choline metabolites in rat milk.

Choline is a constituent of cell membranes, surfactant and acetylcholine and is also a major source of methyl groups for the regeneration of methionine from homocysteine. Previous analyses of rat, human and bovine milk measured only choline, phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin. Choline-containing compounds in milk from rats lactating for 15 d were measured by HPLC and gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry.