Sarcosine is an N-methyl derivative of the
amino acid glycine, and its elevation in tissues and physiological fluids of patients with
sarcosinemia could reflect a deficient pool size of activated 1-carbon units.
Sarcosinemia is a rare inherited metabolic condition associated with
mental retardation. In the present study, we investigated the acute effect of
sarcosine and/or
creatine plus
pyruvate on some parameters of oxidative stress and energy metabolism in cerebral cortex homogenates of 21-day-old Wistar rats. Acute administration of
sarcosine induced oxidative stress and diminished the activities of
adenylate kinase, GAPDH, complex IV, and mitochondrial and cytosolic
creatine kinase. On the other hand,
succinate dehydrogenase activity was enhanced in cerebral cortex of rats. Moreover, total sulfhydryl content was significantly diminished, while DCFH oxidation,
TBARS content, and activities of SOD and GPx were significantly enhanced by acute administration of
sarcosine. Co-administration of
creatine plus
pyruvate was effective in the prevention of alterations provoked by
sarcosine administration on the oxidative stress and the
enzymes of phosphoryltransfer network. These results indicate that acute administration of
sarcosine may stimulate oxidative stress and alter the energy metabolism in cerebral cortex of rats. In case these effects also occur in humans, they may contribute, along with other mechanisms, to the neurological dysfunction of
sarcosinemia, and
creatine and
pyruvate supplementation could be beneficial to the patients.