GLUTAMIC ACID METABOLISM IN BRAIN AND LIVER DURING INFUSION WITH AMMONIA LABELLED WITH NITROGEN-15
Recent results of in vivo experiments using glutamie acid labeled with C/ sup 14/ were consistent with the hypothesis that the amidation of the administered amino-acid to glutamine represents a metabolic event occurring in a tissue or cellular compartment. Since glutamie acid and glutamine syntheses in the central nervous system are the two known processes by which ammonia enters organic linkage, it appeared of great interest to approach the question of setting into compartments the metabolism of glutamic acid and its derivatives with the aid of ammonia labeled with N/sup 15/. N/sup 15/ammonium acetate was infused into the carotid artery of cats over a period of 8 to 85 min with simultaneous electroencephalographic and electrocardiographic tracings. The experiments were terminated by exsanguination of the animal the blood was collected, brain and liver excised and frozen, and the level of glutamic acid and its metabolic derivatives determined in the tissue samples, as well as the concentration of Ni/sup 15/in the amino or amide groups, respectively, of these compounds. The results of a typical experiment of 25-min duration are tabulated. Observations on metabolic reactions in brain and liver are discussed. (C.H.)
- Research Organization:
- New York State Psychiatric Inst.,; and Columbia Univ., New York
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-008496
- OSTI ID:
- 4097958
- Journal Information:
- Nature, Journal Name: Nature Vol. Vol: 189
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Changes in medium radioactivity and composition accompany high-affinity uptake of glutamate and aspartate by mouse brain slices
Characterization of amino acid metabolism by cultured rat kidney cells: Study with sup 15 N