Excitatory amino acids in the cerebrospinal fluid of asphyxiated infants: relationship to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
Asphyxiated (n = 27) and control infants (n = 25) were subjected to spinal taps. Amino acids were measured with liquid chromatography and the degree of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy was determined in each case. In asphyxiated infants, the concentrations of aspartate and glutamate were 286% and 387% (p < or = 0.01 and p < or = 0.05) of the control values, respectively. The cerebrospinal fluid aspartate levels were significantly (p < or = 0.05) higher in the group with severe (3.4 mumol/l) compared with the group with mild hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (1.0 mumol/l). Glutamate was also higher in the group with severe (12.3 mumol/l) than in the groups with mild (2.7 mumol/l) or moderate (3.2 mumol/l) hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (p < or = 0.05). High concentrations of excitatory amino acids were present in the CSF of asphyxiated infants which may exert excitotoxic effects.
Hagberg
H
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
Thornberg
E
E
Blennow
M
M
Kjellmer
I
I
Lagercrantz
H
H
Thiringer
K
K
Hamberger
A
A
Sandberg
M
M
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000150:complications; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000150:complications; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D005971:Glutamates / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D006801:Humans; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000150:complications; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013654:Taurine / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
D000596:Amino Acids; D005971:Glutamates; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D013654:Taurine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid