The Biological Effects of Glutamic Acid and Its Derivatives

the GABA increase takes place and (2) the area of the brain that may mediate the anticonvulsant Investigation of the physiology, biochemistry, activity. Three compounds that increase brain pharmacology and anatomy of GAB A and GABA­ GABA by distinct mechanisms were used in these containing neural systems, continues to reveal the studies: di-n-propylacetate (DPA, sodium val­ rich complexities associated with this neuroactive proate, Depakene(R)), amino-oxyacetic acid amino acid (see recent symposia 1,2,3). Advances (AOAA) and y-vinyl GABA (GVG). in the pharmacology of GABA-mimetic agents In the next sections, the metabolism of GABA have resulted in the development of compounds and a brief historical account of the relationship that can selectively activate GABA receptors (4,5, between GABA and anticonvulsant activity are 6, 7), inhibit the synthetic and degradative enzymes outlined followed by a discussion ofthe biochemical for GABA (8, 9) or affect the neuronal and glial and pharmacological effects of the three drugs. In uptake processes for GABA (10, 11). This has particular, the literature pertaining to the suppres­ already had a significant impact on our under­ sion of seizures and the correlation between anti­ standing of the role of GABA in convulsions and a convulsant action and increases in brain G ABA will range of other CNS functions including feeding be examined. (12), cardiovascular control (13), motor activity (14) and release of pituitary hormones (15). Before 1. Front Matter....Pages i-4 Hippocampal glutamate receptors....Pages 5-18 Enzymatic synthesis and function of folylpolyglutamates....Pages 19-48 δ-Aminolaevulinic acid and amino acid neurotransmitters....Pages 49-58 γ-Glutamylamine cyclotransferase....Pages 59-67 GABA and the enteric nervous system....Pages 69-76 Post-translational carboxylation of preprothrombin....Pages 77-121 Glutamate and aspartate agonists structurally related to ibotenic acid....Pages 123-128 GABA agonists....Pages 129-146 Pharmacology of GABA-mediated inhibition of spinal cord neurons in vivo and in primary dissociated cell culture....Pages 147-162 Molecular characteristics of glutamate receptors in the mammalian brain....Pages 163-179 Pyroglutamic acid....Pages 181-190 Gamma-carboxyglutamic acid....Pages 191-207 Folylpoly- γ -glutamate synthesis by bacteria and mammalian cells....Pages 209-228 Immunocytochemical and autoradiographic localization of GABA system in the vertebrate retina....Pages 229-238 L-glutamate transport in renal plasma membrane vesicles....Pages 239-251 Glutamate as a precursor of GABA in rat brain and peripheral tissues....Pages 253-259 The GABA postsynaptic membrane receptor-ionophore complex....Pages 261-279 The stimulation of ion fluxes in brain slices by glutamate and other excitatory amino acids....Pages 281-295 Alterations of central GABAergic activity in neurologic and psychiatric disorders: evaluation through measurements of GABA and GAD activity in cerebrospinal fluid....Pages 297-304 Cellular compartments of GABA in brain and their relationship to anticonvulsant activity....Pages 305-329 Pteroylpolyglutamates....Pages 331-345 Glutamate receptor binding in insects and mammals....Pages 347-356 γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase: catalytic, structural and functional aspects....Pages 357-368 Dynamic utilization of GABA in substantia nigra: regulation by dopamine and GABA in the striatum, and its clinical and behavioral implications....Pages 369-405