title: Distribution of N-acetylaspartate, N-acetylaspartylglutamate, free glutamate and aspartate following complete mesencephalic transection in rat neuraxis.
abstract: The distribution of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG), free glutamate (Glu) and aspartate (Asp) was studied in the neuraxis of rats 48 h after complete transection of brain stem at the intercollicular level. NAA remained unchanged above the transection level but decreased in the neur-axis segments caudal to the lesion. Glu was strongly depressed both in the segments rostral to the transection and in the ones caudal to it. No significant change was found for NAAG and Asp. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that NAA may be involved in neurotransmission processes and provide further evidence for Glu as transmitter of descending and ascending pathways. In addition, the data obtained do not suggest a direct metabolic or functional relationship between NAA and NAAG nor between these N-acetylderivatives and free Glu and Asp.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Physiology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: D'Arcangelo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brancati
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000032:analysis; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000032:analysis*; D005971:Glutamates / Q000032:analysis*; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004151:Dipeptides; D005971:Glutamates; C027172:isospaglumic acid; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate