4-Aminobutyraldehyde as a precursor convertible to gamma-aminobutyric acid in vivo.
It was found that 4-aminobutyraldehyde (ABAL) is a precursor convertible to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in vivo. [2,3-3H]ABAL was synthesized from [2,3-3H]putrescine. After the subcutaneous administration of [3H]ABAL at the dose of 1 mumol/g body weight, [3H]GABA was produced in the mouse brain in an amount of about 350 nmol/g brain in 10 min. After oral administration of [3H]ABAL at the dose of 2 mumol/g body weight, [3H]GABA was also produced in the brain in an amount of about 530 nmol/g brain in 30 min. It seems that peripherally administered ABAL penetrates the blood-brain barrier into the central nervous system and is rapidly metabolized to GABA in the brain.
D000447:Aldehydes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
D000447:Aldehydes; C006509:4-aminobutyraldehyde; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid