title: 2-Amino-3-(methylamino)propanoic acid (BMAA) bioavailability in the primate.
abstract: 2-Amino-3-(methylamino)-propanoic acid (BMAA) is a low potency excitatory amino acid present in the cycad plant that has been proposed as a factor in the high incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-parkinsonism dementia (ALS-PD) in the western Pacific region. We employed stable isotopic forms of BMAA to assess the oral bioavailability of this compound in cynomolgous monkeys (n = 3). The stable isotope labeled BMAA ([15N]-BMAA) was injected i.v. at the same time that the unlabeled compound was administered orally. Both forms of BMAA were then quantified in a 48h urine sample by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Following oral dosing, 80% of the administered BMAA was absorbed into the systemic circulation; thus, oral bioavailability was high and other routes of administration could not result in significantly higher circulating levels of BMAA for a given administered dose.
authors.affiliation: Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Markey
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Weick
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ziffer
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Kopin
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008252:Macaca fascicularis
chemical_list: D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; C001824:beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine