title: Differential changes in the content of amino acid neurotransmitters in discrete regions of the rat brain prior to the onset and during the course of homocysteine-induced seizures.
abstract: Changes in amino acid concentrations were investigated in selected regions of rat brain prior to the onset and during the course of epileptiform seizures induced by L-homocysteine. The concentration of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) decreased preictally in substantia nigra (-18%), caudate putamen (-26%), and inferior colliculus (-46%). After seizure onset, the GABA content was further reduced in substantia nigra (-31%) and additionally in hippocampus (-18%). Preictal taurine levels were elevated in globus pallidus (+26%) and caudate putamen (+13%) but returned to normal after seizure onset. However, in hippocampus, taurine decreased both preictally (-22%) and after seizure onset (-56%). Glycine was reduced preictally only in globus pallidus (-13%). After seizure onset the direction of its concentration change varied in the brain regions studied. Glutamate levels decreased preictally in hippocampus (-10%) and hypothalamus (-46%) but increased in globus pallidus (+14%). Normal levels were detectable after seizure onset in hypothalamus and globus pallidus but a further reduction in hippocampus (-59%) and significant reductions in substantia nigra (-15%) and caudate putamen (-17%) were detected. Aspartate was elevated in hippocampus, both preictally (+49%) and after seizure onset (+21%) while at the same phases in globus pallidus a consistent reduction (-30%) was observed. The glutamine content increased preictally in globus pallidus (+41%) and hypothalamus (+36%), and in all brain areas during the ictal phase of seizure, the hippocampus exhibiting a dramatic increase (approximately 300%). The contents of serine and alanine were altered in most regions studied only after seizure onset, with the exception of the hippocampus, where a decrease (-41%) of serine was observed preictally.
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grieve
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D005971:Glutamates / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D006710:Homocysteine; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D007245:Inferior Colliculi / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism; D013654:Taurine / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D005971:Glutamates; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D006710:Homocysteine; D005973:Glutamine; D013654:Taurine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D012694:Serine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000409:Alanine