The content of several amino acids in the external cell sheath and four giant axons of a nerve bundle from the CNS of the lobster

Monoamine, amino acid and cholinergic interactions in slices of rat cerebral cortex

Interactions of monoamine, amino acid and cholinergic transmitter systems were studied in slices of rat cerebral cortex using a superfusion procedure and measuring release of endogenous dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), GABA, glutamate (GLU) and aspartate (ASP). Depolarizing concentrations of K+ were used to induce a Ca2+-dependent, Mg2+-inhibited release of the monoamines and amino acids. Submaximal release of the monoamines and amino acids was observed at 35 mM K+, which permitted studies of possible excitatory or inhibitory actions of the added agents. The 35 mM K+-stimulated, Ca2+-dependent release of GABA was inhibited 40, 30 and 25% by 100 microM NE, DA and 5-HT, respectively. The release of GLU was potentiated by NE and reduced by DA. Both DA and 5-HT inhibited the release of ASP. The Ca2+-dependent, K+-stimulated release of endogenous NE, DA and 5-HT was not altered by 100 microM GABA, GLU or ASP. However, 100 microM GLU did enhance the stimulated release of GABA. The cholinergic agonist, carbachol, enhanced the stimulated release of NE, 5-HT and GLU 10, 60 and 40%, respectively. On the other hand, carbachol attenuated the release of DA and GABA approximately 20%. One interpretation of the data is that the amino acid transmitter pathways in slices of the cerebral cortex of the rat can be controlled by monoaminergic and cholinergic systems while the monoamine afferents appear to have a cholinergic regulation but not a major direct amino acid transmitter influence.

Release of endogenous dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and amino acid transmitters from rat striatal slices

The release of endogenous dopamine (DA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) was measured in superfused striatal slices of the rat and the results compared with data obtained for the release of endogenous (a) DA and DOPAC in the cerebral cortex, nucleus accumbens and thalamus; (b) 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), GABA, and glutamate in the striatum; and (c) GABA, glutamate and 5-HT in the cerebral cortex. In superfused slices of all four CNS regions, there appeared to be a Ca2+-dependent, K+-stimulated release of endogenous DA. In addition, in slices of the striatum and nucleus accumbens there also appeared to be a Ca2+ -dependent, 60 mM K+ stimulated release of endogenous DOPAC. In the striatum, 16 mM Mg2+ was as effective as 2.5 mM Ca2+ in promoting the 60 mM K+-stimulated release of DOPAC. In addition, 16 mM Mg2+ appeared to function as a weak Ca2+ agonist since it also promoted the release of DA to approximately 40% of the level attained with Ca2+ in the presence of 60 mM K+. On the other hand, in the striatum, 16 mM Mg2+ inhibited the Ca2+-dependent, 60 mM K+-stimulated release of GABA and glutamate. Similar Mg2+-inhibition was observed in the cerebral cortex not only for GABA and glutamate but also for DA and 5-HT. With the use of alpha-methyl rho-tyrosine (tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor), cocaine (uptake inhibitor) and pargyline (monoamine oxidase inhibitor), it was determined that most of the released DA and DOPAC was synthesized in the slices during the superfusion; DOPAC was not formed from DA which had been released and taken up; and DA and DOPAC were released from DA nerve terminals. In addition, the data indicate a difference in the release process between the amino acids and the monoamines from striatal slices since Mg2+ inhibited the Ca2+-dependent, K+-stimulated release of GABA and glutamate and appeared to promote the release of DA and 5-HT.

Distribution of glycine, GABA, aspartate and glutamate in the rat spinal cord

Glycine, GABA, aspartate and glutamate are putative neurotransmitters in the mammalian spinal cord. The distribution of these amino acids was determined in the rat spinal cord. Transversely, the highest levels of glycine, aspartate and glutamate were in the intermediate and ventral gray; whereas, the highest levels of GABA were in the dorsal gray. Longitudinally, the highest levels of GABA and aspartate were in the thoracic and lumbar segments; whereas, the highest levels of glycine and glutamate were in the cervical and thoracic segments, respectively. In general, the distribution of these amino acids is similar to that reported for the cat, dog and human.

In vitro release of endogenous amino acids from granule cell-, stellate cell-, and climbing fiber-deficient cerebella

The K+-stimulated, Ca2+-dependent release of glutamate, aspartate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), alanine, taurine, and glycine was measured in slices of cerebella obtained from control, and granule cell-, granule cell plus stellate cell-, or climbing fiber-deficient cerebella of the rat. The 55 mM-K+-stimulated release of glutamate and GABA was 10-fold greater in the presence of Ca2+ than in its absence. The stimulated release of aspartate was 4-fold higher when Ca2+ was present in the bathing media, while the value for alanine was twice as high as the amount obtained in the absence of Ca2+. There was no stimulated release of either taurine or glycine from the cerebellar slices. Increasing the Mg2+ concentration to 16 mM inhibited the K+-stimulated, Ca2+-dependent release of glutamate, GABA, aspartate, and alanine 85% or more. The K+-stimulated, Ca2+ dependent release of glutamate, aspartate, and alanine from x-irradiated cerebella deficient in granule cells was reduced to 50-57% of control value. Additional x-irradiation treatment, which further reduced the cerebellar granule cell population and also prevented the acquisition of stellate cells, decreased the release of glutamate by 77%, aspartate by 66%, alanine by 91%, and, in addition, decreased the release of GABA by 55%. The K+-stimulated, Ca2+-dependent release of glutamate, aspartate, GABA, and alanine was not changed in climbing fiber-deficient cerebella obtained from 3-acetylpyridine-treated rats. The data support a transmitter role for GABA and glutamate in the cerebellum, but do not support a similar function for either taurine or glycine. The data also suggest that alanine and aspartate may be co-released along with glutamate from granule cells.

Levels of glutamate, aspartate, GABA, and taurine in different regions of the cerebellum after x-irradiation-induced neuronal loss

The levels of glutamate (Glu), aspartate (Asp), gamma-amino-n-butyric acid (GABA), and taurine (Tau) were determined in the cortex, molecular layer, and deep nuclei of cerebella of adult rats exposed to X-irradiation at 12-15 days following birth (to prevent the acquisition of late-forming granule cells; 12-15x group) and 8-15 days following birth (to prevent the acquisition of granule and stellate cells; 8-15x group). Also, the levels of the four amino acids were measured in the crude synaptosomal fraction (P2) isolated from the whole cerebella of the control, 12-15x, and 8-15x groups. The level of Glu was significantly decreased by (1) 6-20% in the cerebellar cortex; (2) 15-20% in the molecular layer; and (3) 25-50% in the P2 fraction of the X-irradiated groups relative to control values. The content of Glu in the deep nuclei was not changed by X-irradiation treatment. Regional levels of Asp were unchanged by X-irradiation, while its level in P2 decreased by 15-30% after treatment. The levels of GABA and Tau in the molecular layer, deep nuclei, or P2 were not changed in the experimental groups. However, there was a 15% increase in the levels of GABA and Tau in the cerebellar cortex of the 8-15x group relative to control values. The data support the proposed role of glutamate as the excitatory transmitter released from the cerebellar granule cells but are inconclusive regarding a transmitter role for either Tau or GABA from cerebellar stellate cells.

Content of amino acids in axons from the CNS of the lobster

The contents of alanine, proline, glycine, GABA, glutamate, and aspartate were measured in four bundles of axons (designated areas A through D) from the circumesophageal connective of the lobster (Homarus americanus). The contents of these amino acids were also determined in individual axons within specific bundles and in the external sheath covering the circumesophageal connective. Within the nerve bundles the levels of aspartate were highest of the amino acids measured, ranging from 1.95 +/- 0.12 mumol/mg protein in area C to 7.55 +/- 0.54 mumol/mg protein in area B. On the other hand, GABA had the lowest value in the four bundles; its highest level was found in area C (0.083 +/- 0.006 mu mol/mg protein) and the lowest in area B (none detected). The content of glycine ranged from 1.63 +/- 0.14 (area C) to 2.52 +/- 0.32 mumol/mg protein in area A; that for glutamate ranged from 0.390 +/- 0.019 (area C) to 1.01 +/- 1.03 (area B). The contents of alanine and proline changed relatively little from bundle-to-bundle. The content of aspartate was the highest of any of the amino acids assayed in individual axons (with diameters in the range of 40 to 65 mu) dissected from areas B and C. Glycine had the next highest content followed in order by glutamate, proline, and alanine. GABA was not detected in these axons. With the exception of GABA (which could not be detected), aspartate had the lowest level (0.066 +/- 0.017) and glycine had the highest level (2.00 +/- 0.498 mumol/mg protein) in the external sheath covering the the circumesophageal connective.