title: Kynurenic acid: a new effector of valproate action?
abstract: We investigated the changes in hippocampal kynurenic acid (KYNA) concentrations and the amino acids involved in neuronal activity regulation following valproate (VPA) administration (400 mg/kg ip) in pentylenetetrazole-kindled rats (in vivo). We found a remarkably long-lasting increase in KYNA levels following VPA administration, and this effect correlated with a rise in GABA levels. No changes in the concentration of other analyzed amino acids were present. It is likely that the antiepileptic and neuroprotective properties of VPA may also be a consequence of an increase in the hippocampal KYNA concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego 9, PL 02-957 Warszawa, Poland. piomac@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maciejak
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szyndler
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Turzyńska
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sobolewska
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Płaźnik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007736:Kynurenic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid; D007736:Kynurenic Acid; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole