title: Measurement of glutamate and aspartate in Planaria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The major excitatory neurotransmitters in the mammalian central nervous system are glutamate and aspartate. We developed a rapid and efficient method for the extraction and measurement of these amino acids in Planaria--a valuable model for mammalian processes because of their simple, centralized nervous system and similar neurotransmitter systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  The method utilized buffer extraction (perchloric acid containing 0.025% of L-cystine and Na2EDTA), simple derivatization, high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and fluorescence detection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean+/-S.E.M. amounts of glutamate and aspartate were 322.6+/-43.6 and 188.6+/-27.6 pmol/mg-planarian, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The method provides the ability to investigate changes in glutamate and aspartate in response to drug administration or withdrawal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Temple University School of Pharmacy, 3307 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. scott.rawls@temple.edu
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rawls
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: Gregory W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Stagliano
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Raffa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002138:Calibration; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D018846:Excitatory Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010932:Planarians / Q000737:chemistry*; D012015:Reference Standards; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018846:Excitatory Amino Acids; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid