Effect of Drugs on Amino Acid Levels in Brain: Excitants and Depressants
Experimental Biology and Medicine April 1, 1961 R. S. de Ropp, E. H. Snedeker 30 citations
Eighteen chemical agents and electroshock were tested for their effects on ten amino acid and related compounds in rat brains. Convulsant agents (pentylenetetrazole, semicarbazide, strychnine, picrotoxin) and excitants (pheniprazine, amphetamine, mescaline) consistently increased free alanine levels. Semicarbazide uniquely lowered GABA levels to 60% of control values, while other convulsants did not. The tranquilizers chlorpromazine and methoxypromazine raised brain glutamine levels. These findings link specific neurochemical changes to the convulsant or tranquilizing actions of the drugs.