[Effects of electromagnetic pulse on contents of amino acids in hippocampus of rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between the changes of amino acids contents in hippocampus of rats and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) exposure.


METHODS
Rats were decapitated and hippocampus were removed after EMP (6 x 10(4) V/m, rise time 20 ns, pulse width 30 micro s, 5 pulses in 2 minutes) irradiation, and contents of amino acids were detected with high performance liquid chromatograpy (HPLC).


RESULTS
The contents of aspartic acid (Asp) and glutamic acid (Glu) increased significantly 0, 3, 6 h after irradiation. The peak values of Asp [(17.25 +/- 1.63) pmol/ micro l] and Glu [(13.67 +/- 0.95) pmol/ micro l] were higher than those of control [(10.56 +/- 1.50), (6.94 +/- 1.10) pmol/ micro l respectively, P < 0.05]. Then both decreased gradually and reached the normal level 24 - 48 h after irradiation. The contents of glycine (Gly), taurine (Tau) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) also rose after exposure, the peak value of them [(4.51 +/- 0.60), (29.85 +/- 2.70), (5.14 +/- 0.73) pmol/ micro l respectively] were higher than those of control group [(2.18 +/- 0.31), (9.88 +/- 1.47), (2.84 +/- 0.67) pmol/ micro l, P < 0.05], then recovered 48 h after irradiation. The value of Glu/GABA increased immediately after exposure (3.45 +/- 0.25, P < 0.05), then decreased 24 h (1.62 +/- 0.23, P < 0.05) and recovered 48 h after exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
The toxic effect of excess excitatory amino acids may be partly responsible for the early retardation (within 24 h) of learning of rats.
Li
Yu-hong
YH
Institute of Radiation Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China.
Wang
De-wen
DW
Peng
Rui-yun
RY
Li
Zi-jian
ZJ
Dong
Biao
B
Dong
Fang-ting
FT
Liang
Yue-qin
YQ
Hu
Wen-hua
WH
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D011827:Radiation; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D000596:Amino Acids; D018698:Glutamic Acid