BRAIN AMINO ACID UPTAKE

Abstract

The methodology is described for the analysis of 13 plasma and 10 brain amino acids by means of 2 dimensional paper chromatography of colored derivatives. The concentration of these amino acids is reported for control rats, and for experimental animals 15 min. to 1 hr. after injection of L-aspartic acid, asparagine, and L-N-acetyl aspartic acid (NAA). Aspartic acid injection resulted in many-fold increase in plasma glutamic acid but in little or no net increase of aspartic acid or other measured amino acid in brain. Small but significant amounts of asparagine entered brain; this amino acid disappeared from plasma relatively rapidly. NAA administration did not cause any change in the assayed brain of plasma amino acids.