Studies on homocarnosine in cerebrospinal fluid in infancy and childhood. Part I. Homocarnosine level in cerebrospinal fluid of normal infants and children

Abstract

Homocarnosine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of 49 normal infants and children were determined by a high speed amino acid autoanalyzer (Hitachi Co.). The mean homocarnosine level in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of infants and children was 0.75 +/- 0.24 mumol/dl. In infants under 2 years of age, significant correlation between homocarnosine levels in CSF and the gestational age was found (r = 0.79, p less than 0.001). In children from 2 to 8 years of age, homocarnosine levels in CSF were almost constant being independent of the age (mean +/- SD: 0.89 +/- 0.20 mumol/dl). In school children over 9 years of age, significant correlation between homocarnosine levels in CSF and the age was found ( r = -0.68, p less than 0.01).