Chemical studies in relation to convulsive conditions. Effect of Telodrin on the liberation and utilization of ammonia in rat brain

EFFECTS OF DIELDRIN, PICROTOXIN AND TELODRIN ON THE METABOLISM OF AMMONIA IN BRAIN

1. Increases in the concentrations of lactic acid and pyruvic acid in rat brain during acute dieldrin poisoning are associated with hyperactivity of the brain, whereas an increase in the cerebral alanine concentration occurs before the convulsions. Throughout the dieldrin-induced seizure pattern, fluctuations in the concentration of brain ammonia are out of phase with the actual convulsions. 2. Increases in the concentrations of alanine, ammonia and lactic acid in rat brain accompany picrotoxin-induced seizures; there is no increase in the concentration of glutamine. These changes are consistent with the inhibition of glutamine synthesis. 3. In addition to previously reported changes in the concentrations of intermediary metabolites of the brain after the administration of Telodrin (Hathway & Mallinson, 1964), increases have now been found in the alanine and lactic acid concentrations. Since increases in the alanine and glutamine concentrations occur before the convulsions, liberation of ammonia also occurs before the onset of convulsions and throughout their course. Ammonia-binding mechanisms later become inadequate and free ammonia accumulates in cerebral tissues. 4. An increase in the pyruvic acid concentration of the brain after the intraperitoneal injection of either dieldrin or Telodrin is endogenous in origin. 5. The parenteral administration of a small dose of glutamine increases the cerebral concentrations of alanine and glutamic acid. Some animals previously treated with glutamine resisted Telodrin convulsions. 6. Mechanisms for the disposal of ammonia liberated in brain are discussed.

Glutamine protects neuronal function against cerebral hypoxia: a study using the in vitro hippocampal slice preparation

Pretreatment of hippocampal slices with glutamine doubled the recovery rate of the synaptic function (electrically evoked population spike) from a standardized hypoxic insult in CA1 pyramidal neurons. This protective effect of glutamine was dose-dependent and biphasic; recovery of synaptic function was observed in 44% of the control slices and in 55%, 90%, 92% and 0% of slices pretreated with 0.1, 1.0, 5.0 and 10.0 mM glutamine, respectively. The synaptic function did not recover after hypoxia in slices pretreated with glutamic acid (1.0 mM).

Effect of dieldrin injection on the level of certain amino acids and some enzymes in rat brain

The present investigation revealed the effect of the organochlorine insecticide dieldrin at the dose level 0.25 LD50 at different time intervals on the concentration of 11 rat brain amino acids, on the activities of glutamic oxyacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GpT) and cholinesterase. The study was also extended to include the total protein content during the tested periods. The daily injection of dieldrin caused a marked decrease in the levels of glutamic acid, glutamine and taurine and an increase in the levels of aspartic acid, asparagine, GABA, glycine, lysine, serine, alanine and histidine. However, the maximal increase and decrease were recorded for most of the tested amino acids at the end of the tested period. The activity of the transaminases increased significantly. The recorded values of GOT were usually higher than GPT. Cholinesterase activity was inhibited thoroughly during all the experimental periods. Total protein content was decreased in the experiment; the minimal value was given 3 days after the injection.

Ammonia intoxication: effects on cerebral cortex and spinal cord

The effect of an acute systemic ammonia intoxication on the metabolic states of the cerebral cortex and the spinal cord of the same animal was studied in the cat. The intravenous infusion of ammonium acetate (2 and 4 mmol/kg body weight/30 min) increased the gross levels of tissue NH4+, glutamine, glutamine/glutamate ratio, lactate, and the lactate/pyruvate ratio in the cerebral cortex and the spinal cord. Pyruvate increased, but significantly only in the spinal cord; aspartate decreased, but significantly only in the cerebral cortex. The infusion of ammonium acetate did not significantly change the levels of phosphocreatine, ATP, ADP, AMP, total adenine nucleotides, adenylate energy charge, glucose, glutamate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and malate in either tissue. The changes of NH4+, glutamine, and lactate levels as well as glutamine/glutamate and lactate/pyruvate ratios in the spinal cord correlated significantly with the corresponding changes of these metabolites in the cerebral cortex. Thus, cerebral cortex and spinal cord show certain specific and comparable metabolic changes in response to a systemic ammonia intoxication. The effect of ammonia intoxication on the increases of glutamine and lactate levels is discussed.

Ammonia as an indicator of exercise stress implications of recent findings to sports medicine

The role of ammonia in exercise-induced fatigue is reviewed. Implications for integrated activity of developing hyperammoneic states, caused by various precipitating conditions such as exercise, liver dysfunction, hypoxia, hyperoxia, and chemical poisoning are described. The central role of ammonia in diverse important metabolic pathways indicates its ubiquitous role in a spectrum of activity ranging from elite exhaustive performance of sportsmen and -women to life-threatening organ dysfunction. The action of ammonia and metabolites from associated pathways in producing seemingly dangerous short term conditions, but inducing possible long term protection against degenerative processes associated with ageing (free radical-induced cellular damage) indicate the paradoxical position of ammonia and its associated metabolic pathways for health and disease processes.

The neurotoxicity of beta-N-oxalyl-L-alphabeta-diaminopropionic acid, the neurotoxin from the pulse Lathyrus sativus

Intraperitoneal administration of beta-N-oxalyl-l-alphabeta-diaminopropionic acid, the neurotoxin from Lathyrus sativus, to 12-day-old rats causes typical convulsions within 10min. There is a striking accumulation of glutamine in the brain, and chronic ammonia toxicity is indicated. There are no changes in the amounts of urea, aspartic acid and glutamic acid in the brain. Adult rats, even when injected with a dose of excess of beta-N-oxalyl-l-alphabeta-diaminopropionic acid, do not develop symptoms, and there are no changes in the amounts of glutamine or ammonia in the brain. A significant concentration of beta-N-oxalyl-l-alphabeta-diaminopropionic acid can be detected in the brain of the young rat but not in that of the adult animal. It is concluded that beta-N-oxalyl-l-alphabeta-diaminopropionic acid interferes with the ammonia-generating or -fixing mechanisms in the brain and leads to chronic ammonia toxicity.