title: [Effects of electromagnetic pulse on contents of amino acids in hippocampus of rats].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiation Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China.
authors.forename: Yu-hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: De-wen
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rui-yun
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Zi-jian
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Fang-ting
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Yue-qin
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Wen-hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D018698:Glutamic Acid