Effect of asparagine, glutamine and insulin on cerebral amino acid neurotransmitters.
Treatment of rats with asparagine or glutamine caused substantial increases in glutamine concentrations in cerebellum and medulla oblongata. Insulin treatment caused a diminution of glutamate and GABA in these regions of brain. Since it is now well-established that glutamine is a very efficient precursor of the neurotransmitter pool of glutamate in mammalian brain, treatment with asparagine or glutamine could be of therapeutic (replacement) value in the treatment of neurological disorders such as Friedreich's ataxia, in which cerebral glutamate concentrations have been found to be diminished.
D000818:Animals; D001216:Asparagine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000032:analysis; D005621:Friedreich Ataxia / Q000188:drug therapy; D005971:Glutamates / Q000032:analysis; D005973:Glutamine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000032:analysis; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis
D005971:Glutamates; D007328:Insulin; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D005973:Glutamine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D001216:Asparagine