title: The neurolathyrogen, beta-N-oxalyl-L-alpha,beta-diaminopropionic acid, is a potent agonist at 'glutamate preferring' receptors in the frog spinal cord.
abstract: A neurotoxic amino acid, beta-N-oxalyl-L-alpha,beta-diaminopropionate (beta-ODAP), found in seeds of Lathyrus sativus and a possible causative agent of neurolathyrism, was equipotent with kainate as a depolarizing agent of frog spinal cord ventral roots. beta-ODAP and kainate appeared to act on a common receptor, as their actions could not be differentiated pharmacologically. These results could explain some of the symptoms of neurolathyrism.
mesh_terms: D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D011894:Rana pipiens; D011896:Rana temporaria; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D007608:Kainic Acid