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Amino Acids as Central Neurotransmitters

Amino Acids as Central Neurotransmitters Many studies have indicated that certain amino acids, endogenous to the vertebrate CNS, may serve as neurotransmitters (1-9). Neutral amino acids (e.g. 'Y­ aminobutyric acid, glycine, taurine) are leading candidates for roles as inhibitory transmitters, whereas acidic amino acids (e.g. glutamate, aspartate) may serve as excitatory transmitters. If these amino acids are transmitters, they perhaps function in a greater proportion of central synapses than other possible transmitters (e.g. norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine, serotonin) because they are present in much higher concentrations in the CNS and can alter the excitability of most �eurones. However, these amino acids are heavily involved in general metabolism and, except for 'Y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and taurine, are substrates for protein synthesis. Consequently, it seems imperative to devise methods to separate transmit­ ter from nontransmitter compartments and glial from neuronal functions for these amino acids. Early studies indicated that changes in the cerebral concentrations of some of these amino acids might be associated with seizures or other neurological dysfunc­ tions (10, 1 1). More recent evidence has revealed that these substances may be involved in the functions of cerebral cortical, cerebellar, hippocampal, medullary, spinal, and extrapyramidal systems (2, 4, 5, 12-18). Studies on the in vivo http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology Annual Reviews

Amino Acids as Central Neurotransmitters

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Publisher
Annual Reviews
Copyright
Copyright 1975 Annual Reviews. All rights reserved
Subject
Review Articles
ISSN
0362-1642
eISSN
1545-4304
DOI
10.1146/annurev.pa.15.040175.000541
pmid
238459
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Many studies have indicated that certain amino acids, endogenous to the vertebrate CNS, may serve as neurotransmitters (1-9). Neutral amino acids (e.g. 'Y­ aminobutyric acid, glycine, taurine) are leading candidates for roles as inhibitory transmitters, whereas acidic amino acids (e.g. glutamate, aspartate) may serve as excitatory transmitters. If these amino acids are transmitters, they perhaps function in a greater proportion of central synapses than other possible transmitters (e.g. norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine, serotonin) because they are present in much higher concentrations in the CNS and can alter the excitability of most �eurones. However, these amino acids are heavily involved in general metabolism and, except for 'Y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and taurine, are substrates for protein synthesis. Consequently, it seems imperative to devise methods to separate transmit­ ter from nontransmitter compartments and glial from neuronal functions for these amino acids. Early studies indicated that changes in the cerebral concentrations of some of these amino acids might be associated with seizures or other neurological dysfunc­ tions (10, 1 1). More recent evidence has revealed that these substances may be involved in the functions of cerebral cortical, cerebellar, hippocampal, medullary, spinal, and extrapyramidal systems (2, 4, 5, 12-18). Studies on the in vivo

Journal

Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology – Annual Reviews

Published: Apr 1, 1975

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