DBA/2 mice between 21 and 28 days of age are highly susceptible to sound-induced seizures. Drug studies suggest a possible deficit of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated neurotransmission may be involved. We have measured the whole brain GABA concentration and glutamic acid decarboxylase activity in DBA/2 mice at various ages before, during, and after the period of maximal susceptibility to audiogenic seizures. Corresponding determinations were carried out on age-matched TO mice, a strain much less susceptible to audiogenic seizures than DBA/2 mice at all ages. No significant differences in GABA concentration or glutamic acid decarboxylase activity were found between strains at any age. The susceptibility of DBA/2 mice to audiogenic seizures does not result from a gross inability to synthesise or store GABA.
Ethanolamine 0-sulphate (400 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered to rat pups at 9 days of age and on alternate days up to 17 days of age. At 18 days of age, y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration was increased (threeto fourfold), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) activity reduced to 55% of control, and the number of GABA, and GABA, binding sites increased in the cerebral cortex. This is the same pattern of change as seen previously with oral administration of ethanolamine U-sulphate to the adult rat but the changes occur more rapidly in the developing rat. A lower dose of ethanolamine 0sulphate (I00 mg/kg, i.p.), administered according to the same schedule, caused a twofold increase in cortical GABA at 18 days of age whereas GAD activity and GABA, binding were not significantly altered. Key Words: Ethanolamine O-sulphate-Development-GABA-transaminase inhibitor-Rat cerebral cortex-Glutamic acid decarboxylase-y-Aminobutyric acid-GABA, and GABA, binding. Sykes C. C. and Horton R. W. Development of the y-aminobutyric acid neurotransmitter system in the rat cerebral cortex during repeated administration of the GABA-transaminase inhibitor ethanolamine U-sulphate. J. Neurochem. 46, 213-217 (1986).
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.