Amino acid concentra­tion in different parts of the dog brain

The present paper describes each pattern of the free amino acids in different parts of the dog brain determined by ion-exchange chromatography. The parts examined have been the cerebral cortex, cerebral white matter, cerebellar hemisphere, cerebellar vermis, caudate nucleus, thalamus, hypothalamus, and medulla oblongata. Gamma-aminobutyric acid concentration was the highest in the hypothalamus. Glutamic acid showed lower values in the white matter, hypothalamus, and medulla oblongata. Aspartic acid showed lower values in the white matter and caudate nucleus and higher values in the medulla oblongata. Glutathione and cystathionine showed higher values in the thalamus. N-Acetylaspartic acid showed lower values in the white matter and medulla oblongata. Glycine and alanine showed higher values in the medulla oblongata.</p

Regulatory effects of blood constituents on the function and metabolism of the cat brain in perfusion ezperiments. Brain perfusion with artificial blood containing low molecular dextran and amino acids

As a link in a series of studies on the effects of blood constituents on the brain function by means of brain perfusion, we used four kinds of artificial blood; namely, the blood containing a low molecular dextran, one containing glutamic acid, one containing essential amino acid group and the one containing both essential amino acid group and glutamic acid. During the perfusion experiments we observed the effects of blood constituents on the function and metabolism of the perfused brain and obtained the following results. 1. When a low molecular dextran is used as the colloid osmotic pressure agent instead of hydrodextran, the amount of the blood flow in the brain is maintained roughly at a certain fixed level throughout the experiment, showing no gradual decreasing tendency. 2. When using the artificial blood supplemented with glutamic acid, EEG of the perfused brain shows an increase in the appearance rate of &#946;32 and &#946;33 bands, approaching closely to the pattern of EEG of unrestrained controls at arousal state. 3. In the case of the blood added with essential amino acids similar to the case using the blood with glutamic acid, EEG approaches towards the alert pattern of the controls. 4. When the perfusion is done with the artificial blood lacking in amino acids, about one hour after the start of the perfusion the amount of glutamic acid and its related compounds in the brain can no longer be maintained at normal level and the decrease, being so marked, brings about a marked decrease also in total amino acid content. 5. When the perfusion blood contains glutamic acid, essential amino acid group or both, the concentrations of amino acids of the brain glutamic acid group and the total amino acid can be maintained approximately at normal level for the duration of over one hour.</p

Mechanisms in the development of limbic status epilepticus and hippocampal neuron loss: an experimental study in a model of status epilepticus induced by kindling-like electrical stimulation of the deep prepyriform cortex in rats.

A new model of status epilepticus (SE), which was induced by intermittent electrical stimulation (20 Hz for 20 sec every min for 180 min) of the deep prepyriform cortex, has been developed in the conscious rat. SE was induced in 9 of 16 rats in the drug-free group. The number of stimulation trains required to induce SE in this status subgroup was 125.6 +/- 12.7 (mean +/- SEM) and the mean duration of self-sustained seizure activity (SSSA) occurring after cessation of the stimulation session was 295.4 +/- 111.4 min. Some animals showed secondary generalized seizures. Significant cell loss was observed in the hippocampal CA3 pyramidal cell layer ipsilateral to the stimulation site and bilateral CA1 areas in the status subgroup compared with the group subjected to sham operation. In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between the duration of SSSA subsequent to the stimulation session and the total number of intact pyramidal neurons observed in the bilateral CA1 and ipsilateral CA3 subfields of the status subgroup. There were significant differences between the status and non-status subgroups with respect to the number of afterdischarges (ADs) and the total AD duration during the stimulation session. Pretreatment with phenobarbital (30 mg/kg) prevented the development of SE and hippocampal cell loss completely. Pretreatment with MK-801, a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist (0.25 or 1 mg/kg), also prevented hippocampal cell loss, although it did not block SE generation completely, which suggests dissociation of the mechanisms underlying the development of SE and hippocampal damage. These results indicate that prolonged SSSA actually causes hippocampal damage and it is critically dependent upon NMDA receptor participation.</p

Glutamic acid metabolism in perfused cat brain studied with 14C-labelled glutamic acid

The rate of transport of blood glutamic acid into the brain and the rate of metabolic conversion of the amino acid in the brain were derived by the use of the brain perfution method in vivo and in situ with [D.HC] ·Lglutamic acid. The net uptake of glutamic acid by the brain was observed. Most of the radioactivity released from the brain into the cerebral venous blood was found to consist of glutamine. Small but significant amounts of output as radioactive GSH and CO2 were also found. Glutamic acid transport and its rate of metabolism were lowered in the glucose. free condition. The size of the compartment of the small glutamic acid pool, which was related closely to the blood glutamic acid, and that of the large glutamic acid pool, which was related closely to the blood glucose, were calculated and compared with each other.</p

Diffuse Lewy Body Disease : An Autopsy Case

A 67-year-old male patient initially showed memory disturbance followed by tremors a year later. The symptoms rapidly aggravated to dementia and Parkinsonian symptoms, and the patient died 2 years and 6 months after the onset at the age of 69 years and 5 months. Autopsy revealed numerous senile plaques in the cerebral cortex and Alzheimer's neurofibrillary tangles in the inferior temporal lobe and hippocampus. A number of Lewy bodies were found in the cerebral cortex and brain stem. Lewy bodies were found abundantly in the third layer of the pyramidal cells in the gyrus parahippocamalis. The distribution of Lewy bodies in the cerebral cortex was similar to that of inflated cells in Pick's disease.</p

Metabolism of 14 C-iodochlorohydroxyquinoline (chinoform) in mice

In order to know the organ distribution of Chinoform, I4C.Chinoform was injected into the tail vein of the mice, and radioactivity was measured in the chloroform soluble fractions in some organs and tissues containing non.conjugated Chinoform. The results obtained are as follows. 1. Uptake of Chinoform by the visceral organs was found to be in the following ascending order: fat tissue, kidney, spleen, liver, small intestine, (blood), muscle and eye, and marked uptake by the fat tissue and kidney was observed. 2. The presence of radioactive Chinoform in the chloroform soluble fraction of the central nervous system was recognized and it was almost in the same degree of specific radioactivity as that of blood. 3. A higher uptake in the chloroform soluble fraction of the sciatic nerve than that of central nervous system was recognized, and the value of the former was about 3 to 8 times as high as that of the latter. 4. The presence of Chinoform in the chroloform soluble fraction of the bile, although it increased after incu bation of the bile with j9-glucuro. nidase was observed. High radiogctivity of chinoform in the total fraction of the bile suggests a possible presence of &#34;liver-intestine-circulation&#34; of the drug.</p

Aldehyde dehydrogenase deficiency, flush patterns and prevalence of alcoholism: an interethnic comparison.

A study was performed to verify that the prevalence of alcohol abuse and dependence in Formosan aborigines differs from that of Taiwanese (Chinese Han people), using analysis of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) isozymes and flush patterns on randomly sampled 70 Atayal, 66 Paiwan, 61 Yami and 94 Taiwanese subjects were studied. The activity of an isomer of ALDH having a low Km (ALDH-I) in hair roots was analysed by isoelectric focusing assay. The subjective experience of flushing response after alcohol ingestion was assessed. Results showed that the rate of ALDH-I deficiency in Taiwanese (51.1%) was significantly higher than in aborigines, i.e., 6.4%, 3.9%, and 0% in Atayal, Paiwan, and Yami subjects, respectively. The percentage occurrence of ALDH-I deficiency and prevalence of alcohol dependence in Taiwanese and aborigines were negatively correlated. The predominant pattern of self-reported flush response after alcohol use among aborigines was of slow onset. The flush response to alcohol ingestion was examined in relation to aldehyde metabolizing enzyme. Since alcohol sensitivity is an important factor in the development and maintenance of the alcohol ingestion habit in humans, our results support the hypothesis that there is a biological basis in the different rates of alcohol abuse and dependence among different ethnic groups.</p

Bunina bodies in dendrites of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

We studied the brains of two cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with dementia. Bunina bodies were found in the motor neurons of cranial nerve nuclei (trigeminal, facial and hypoglossal nerves) as well as in the spinal motoneurons. They appeared mostly in the cytoplasm and occasionally in the neuronal processes. However, the present electron microscopic study disclosed clearly that Bunina bodies were present not only in the cell body but also in the dendrites. No Bunina bodies were observed in the axons. It is inferred that the Bunina bodies were degenerative products formed as a result of a protein metabolism disorder.</p

A case of bulbospinal muscular atrophy with chief complaint of sensory disorder in the lower extremities.

A 56-year-old man was admitted to our department with a chief complaint of lower extremity dysesthesia. He described a dull numbness below the ankle and a dull pain in the nates for the past two years. Although the numbness extended to the thigh, he did not notice any muscular weakness or atrophy. Neurological examination revealed weakness and atrophy in the face, tongue and the proximal portions of all four extremities. Deep tendon reflexes were decreased. A moderate loss of vibratory sensation was noted below the knees. Electromyography showed neurogenic changes. Muscle biopsy revealed both myogenic and neurogenic changes. Sural nerve biopsy revealed a mild reduction of myelinated fibers, particularly the large-diameter fibers. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of bulbospinal muscular atrophy (BSMA) was made. In recent years, there have been some case reports of BSMA with sensory disturbances, or merely with subclinical manifestations of a sensory disturbance. This case is included in the same category as those reports, but it is interesting to note that the sensory disturbance in the lower extremities occurred as the chief complaint of the disease.</p

Familial spastic paraplegia with epilepsy.

We report a family whose members have familial spastic paraplegia (FSP) associated with epilepsy. A man and his sister initially had primary generalized epilepsy with tonic-clonic seizures, but they have had no seizures for years. However, they developed spastic paresis of the lower extremities and presently show features of FSP. Their mother seemed to have suffered from FSP. One son of the female patient has epilepsy. The clinical picture of this family suggests a close relationship between FSP and epilepsy.</p