title: Amino acid neurotransmitters: separation approaches and diagnostic value.
abstract: Amino acids in the central nervous system can be divided into non-neurotransmitter or neurotransmitter depending on their function. The measurement of these small molecules in brain tissue and extracellular fluid has been used to develop effective treatment strategies for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases and for the diagnosis of such pathologies. Here we describe the separation and detection techniques that have been used for the measurement of amino acids at trace levels in brain tissue and dialysates. An overview of the function of amino acid transmitters in the brain is given. In addition, the type of sampling techniques that are used for the determination of amino acid levels in the brain is described.
authors.affiliation: Computational, Analytical and Structural Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, New Frontiers Science Park, Third Avenue, Harlow, Essex CM19 5AW, UK. ajit_j_shah@gsk.com
authors.forename: Ajit J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crespi
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heidbreder
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002845:Chromatography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents