Excitatory acidic amino acids and the cation content and sodium ion flux of isolated tissues from the brain.

J A Harvey, H McIlwain

Index: Biochem. J. 108 , 269-274, (1968)

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Abstract

1. Sample from the neocortex and piriform cortex of guinea pigs and rats were incubated in inulin-containing glucose-saline. Their intracellular (non-inulin) space contained 19-27muequiv. of Na(+)/g. of original tissue. These values were stable between 30 and 100min. after incubation commenced, but addition of (22)NaCl to the neocortical samples showed them to be associated with a flux of 400muequiv. of Na(+)/g. of tissue/hr. 2. Addition of 0.5-10mm-l-glutamic acid or 0.1mm-N-methyl-dl-aspartic acid rapidly increased the tissue's Na(+) content; N-acetyl-dl-aspartic acid was without action. 3. During the first 1-1.5min. after the addition of l-glutamic acid to neocortical samples their Na(+) content increased at 600muequiv./g. of tissue/hr., and the rate of (22)Na(+) influx corresponded to 1230muequiv. of Na(+)/g./hr. These rates were calculated to be sufficiently rapid to account for loss of the tissue's normal membrane potential within 1-2sec. of the addition of the acid. 4. In addition, a rapid but more limited loss of K(+) took place after the addition of l-glutamic acid or the methylaspartic acid; on continued incubation tissue K(+) content increased, as also did the intracellular volume of the tissue, from its original 670mul./g. to 1100mul./g. 5. Interpretation of these and of associated changes is offered in terms that involve a cation pump and the permeability changes associated with the nerve impulse.