Metabolism of γ-Aminobutyric Acid in Brain Slices

Abstract

1) It was thought from the experiments using the tracer techniques that γ-aminobutyric acid which was added to the guinea pig brain slices or the rat brain mitochondria was metabolized aerobically through the following route; after transaminating to α-keto acid which was suggested to be originated from the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the succinic semialdehyde produced from GAB itself was oxidized completely through the tricarboxylic acid cycle from the succinic acid level. 2) When uniformly labelled glucose-C¹⁴ was being metabolized aerobically in the brain slices, C¹⁴ of glucose was converted into γ-aminobutyric acid very actively. The importance of the aerobic metabolism of γ-aminobutyric acid in relation to the metabolism of both glucose and amino acids in the brain tissue was discussed.