title: [Amino acids in human epileptogenic foci].
abstract: The functional status of GABA synapses together with tissue levels of other putative neurotransmitter amino acids was studied in epileptogenic foci (identified by stereo-EEG) removed neurosurgically from 14 epileptic patients unresponsive to anti-epileptic medication. L. glutamic acid decarboxylase was lower than normal in epileptogenic cortical tissue from 10 to 12 patients. 3H-GABA-"A" receptor binding was low in all epileptogenic tissue examined. GABA levels were unchanged, whereas glutamate was increased in 7 patients. These studies confirm previous observations that there is a decreased functional activity of GABA synapses in a high proportion of epileptogenic foci. Therefore these data indicate that there is indeed an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter systems.
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000378:metabolism*; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D005971:Glutamates / Q000032:analysis; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000032:analysis; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D005971:Glutamates; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase
vernacular_title: Les acides aminés dans les foyers épileptogènes humains.