Inhibitory and excitatory amino acids in cerebrospinal fluid of chronic epileptic patients
Authors:
- 1 October 1989
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Nature in Journal of Neural Transmission
- Vol. 76 (3) , 221-230
Abstract
We studied the levels of excitatory and inhibitory amino acids in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 28 epileptic patients (24 with partial type seizures, 4 with primary generalized seizures) and 12 controls. The levels of aspartate were 63% (p<0.01), glutamine 129% (p<0.001), and homocarnosine 127% (p< 0.005) that of controls. The concentrations of glutamate, asparagine, total GABA, free GABA, taurine, and glycine did not differ between epileptic patients and controls. Patients with partial epilepsy had a pattern of amino acids in CSF similar to that in patients with primary generalized seizures. In the present study we did not observe increased excitation or decreased inhibition in the seizure-active brains of epileptics, as far as the CSF levels of amino acids reflect their levels in the brain.Keywords
This publication has 31 references indexed in Scilit:
- Amino acid levels in human CSF after generalized seizureJournal of Neural Transmission, 1987
- Memory disturbances in epileptic patientsActa Neurologica Scandinavica, 1986
- Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Study of Vigabatrin (Gamma‐Vinyl GABA) in Drug‐Resistant EpilepsyEpilepsia, 1986
- Recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of seizure disordersTrends in Neurosciences, 1985
- Cerebrospinal Fluid γ‐Aminobutyric Acid Levels in Children with Different Types of Epilepsy: Effect of Anticonvulsant TreatmentEpilepsia, 1985
- Cerebrospinal Fluid GABA as an Index of Brain GABA ActivityClinical Neuropharmacology, 1983
- Relationship Between GABA Concentrations in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Seizure ExcitabilityJournal of Neurochemistry, 1982
- Concentration of Metabolites of Valproic Acid in Plasma of Epileptic PatientsEpilepsia, 1981
- Changes in Regional Brain Levels of Amino Acid Putative Neurotransmitters After Prolonged Treatment with t he Anticonvulsant Drugs Diphenylhydantoin, Phenobarbitone, Sodium Valproate, Ethosuximide, and Sulthiame in the RatJournal of Neurochemistry, 1981
- Free Amino Acids in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Epileptic SubjectsEpilepsia, 1974