title: gamma-Aminobutyric acid metabolism and behavioral effects after intraventricular injection of spermine in chicks.
abstract: Effects of intraventricularly injected spermine on behavior and electrocortical activity and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolism after a single dose of 1.13 mumol/animal were studied. Decrease in locomotor activity, sedation or sleep, and electrocortical synchronization that lasted approximately 2 h were observed. In addition spermine caused a significant increase in GABA content in diencephalon and brainstem, 30 min after administration. Concomitantly a significant increase of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity was observed in cerebral hemispheres, diencephalon, and brainstem. Reduction in gamma-aminobutyrate: alpha-oxoglutarate amino-transferase (GABA-T) levels occurred in the diencephalon along with a significant increase of GABA-T in the brainstem. The present results demonstrate that spermine has the capacity to affect GABA metabolism and are in favor of the suggestion that endogenous polyamines may modulate GABAergic mechanisms.
mesh_terms: D000612:4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000032:analysis; D002645:Chickens; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000032:analysis; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D013096:Spermine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013096:Spermine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000612:4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase