急性低血压对前庭神经内侧核区谷氨酸和牛磺酸含量的影响

本实验用脑部微量透析法和高效液相色谱法观察急性失血诱发大鼠低血压时前庭神经内侧核(medial vestibular nucleus,MVN)内氨基酸类神经递质谷氨酸(glutamate,Glu)和牛磺酸(tautine,Tau)含量的变化,以了解MVN内这些氨基酸类递质是否参与血压的调节。实验观察到,正常血压大鼠MVN内Glu和Tau浓度在透析探针植入90 min后趋于稳定,此时 Glu的平均含量为(18．96±0．27)pmol／8 μl透析液,Tau的平均含量为(7．73±0．05)pmol/8μl透析液。动脉抽血1．5 ml诱发急性低血压时,同侧MVN区Glu含量增加(P<0．05),Tau含量减少(P<0．05)。用利多卡因(lidocaine)短时阻断前庭传入及用化学方法永久破坏单侧前庭器官后,动脉抽血1.5 ml使血压降低30％,同侧MVN内氨基酸类神经递质无明显改变。结果提示,急性失血引起的低血压可通过前庭器官影响MVN的活动,该区内氨基酸类递质可能参与这一活动的调节。     

急性低血压对清醒大鼠前庭内侧核区γ-氨基丁酸和甘氨酸含量的影响

为了探讨急性低血压通过外周前庭器官影响前庭神经核活动的部分神经化学机制,本实验利用脑部微量透析法和高效液相色谱法,观察静脉注射硝普钠(sodium nitroprusside,SNP)诱发急性低血压时,清醒大鼠前庭内侧核(medial vesti-bular nucleus,MVN)内γ-氨基丁酸(γ-aminobutyric acid,GABA)和甘氨酸(glycine,Gly)含量的变化。实验选用Wistar雄性清洁级大鼠72只,体重在(250±50)g,随机分为对照组、前庭器官损伤同侧组和前庭器官损伤对侧组。实验观察到,静脉注射SNP使血压平均下降30%时,MVN内GABA和Gly含量明显减少(P0.01)。用对氨基苯胂酸盐破坏单侧外周前庭器官两周后,静脉注射SNP使血压降低30%后,单侧前庭器官破坏同侧MVN内GABA和Gly含量无明显变化;而单侧前庭器官破坏对侧MVN内GABA和Gly含量明显减少(P0.01)。上述结果提示,清醒动物诱发急性低血压影响MVN功能活动过程中可能有GABA和Gly的参与。     

前庭代偿中双侧前庭内侧核对输入刺激响应的敏感性变化及其离子机制

前庭代偿是研究前庭疾病防治策略和成年后由外周损伤导致的中枢神经系统可塑性的重要模型。脑干中的前庭内侧核(medial vestibular nucleus, MVN)是实现前庭代偿的重要中枢。MVN神经元的兴奋性和敏感性对前庭功能的正常执行十分关键,但先前的研究集中关注于单侧外周迷路切除(unilateral labyrinthectomy, UL)这一前庭代偿模型中患侧MVN中神经元兴奋性活动的变化,对双侧MVN神经元动态响应输入刺激的敏感性变化仍知之甚少。本研究采用实时荧光定量PCR、离体脑片全细胞膜片钳记录和行为学方法,观察到UL后6 h,大鼠表现出显著的自发运动障碍,且其患侧而非健侧MVN中B型神经元的兴奋性活动显著降低。但与之相反,健侧而非患侧MVN中的B型神经元对斜坡和阶跃电流刺激的敏感性则显著升高。UL后1周,大鼠基础运动行为得到代偿,其患侧MVN神经元的兴奋性和健侧MVN神经元的敏感性均恢复至正常水平。此外,参与B型MVN神经元敏感性调控的小电导钙激活钾通道(small conductance Ca2+-activated K+channel, SK) UL后6 h在健...     

新生、成年和老年小鼠尾壳核、皮层运动区与脊髓中某些递质氨基酸含量的研究

用本实验室改进的超微量 DANS 反应-聚酰胺薄膜层析-荧光方法测定了新生、成年和老年小鼠尾壳核、皮层运动区和脊髓的递质氨基酸:GABA、牛磺酸、甘氨酸、谷氨酸、天冬氨酸和丙氨酸。实验结果表明,不同年龄小鼠中枢神经系统不同部位的“抑制性”和“兴奋性”递质氨基酸的含量不同:(1)尾壳核的“抑制性”递质 GABA 含量随年龄的增长而增加。在发育过程中“兴奋性”递质天冬氨酸、谷氨酸也显著升高,而“抑制性”递质牛磺酸含量却显著降低。老化时除 GABA 继续升高外,所测定的其他递质氨基酸皆无显著变化。(2)皮层运动区的“抑制性”递质牛磺酸和甘氨酸含量在发育过程中是降低的,而“兴奋性”递质谷氨酸显著升高。在老化时只有“抑制性”递质 GABA 继续升高。(3)脊髓的“抑制性”递质 GABA 和牛磺酸含量在发育过程中显著降低,而“兴奋性”递质天冬氨酸含量却显著升高。(4)由新生到成年,尾壳核、皮层运动区和脊髓的“抑制性”与“兴奋性”递质氨基酸总量的比值是降低的。成年小鼠的此比值近似于1,新生小鼠此比值(?)1。而老年小鼠的脊髓此比值<1。新生小鼠尾壳核的高比值可能在生物化学上反映了其在发育期的功能特点。     

人乳中氨基酸的含量及分析方法研究进展

人乳中含有丰富的氨基酸,其中赖氨酸、苏氨酸、亮氨酸、缬氨酸、异亮氨酸、苯丙氨酸、甲硫氨酸和组氨酸等必需氨基酸构成比例合理,牛磺酸和谷氨酸等条件必需氨基酸含量丰富,丙氨酸、丝氨酸、天冬氨酸和甘氨酸等非必需氨基酸含量也较为丰富;人乳中含有的氨基酸在维持婴儿生长发育、增强免疫力、肠道保护等方面发挥重要作用.本文综述了人乳中主要氨基酸的含量及分析方法,以期为婴儿食品的开发及母乳成分数据库的建立提供一定的依据.     

大鼠前庭内侧核在前庭—交感反应中的作用

实验在氯醛糖和尿酯混合麻醉的大鼠上进行。在内脏大神经上记录刺激同侧前庭神经进入脑干处的交感反应。电刺激前庭神经可在同侧内脏大神经引出—明确的叠加反应,其平均潜伏期为45.8±6.98ms,时程为55.21±5.35ms。增加刺激强度,反应幅度也增加,但潜伏期不变。用前庭内侧核(NVM)的片层场电位作为指标并选择其相位倒转处作刺激点,可在同侧内脏大神经记录到潜伏期为32ms 的叠加反应,而同一动物刺激前庭神经入脑处时内脏大神经反应的潜伏期为43ms。在 NVM 头端损毁后,此前庭-交感反应明显减小,再损毁尾端 NVM 后,此反应消失。损毁 Deiters 核对前庭-交感反应无影响。这些结果表明 NVM在内脏大神经记录到的前庭-交感反应中是一重要的中继站。     

蚯蚓活动对土壤氨基酸组分及含量的影响

通过室内培养试验,研究了赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia foetida)和威廉环毛蚓(Metaphire guillelmi)对土壤氨基酸组分及含量的影响,并探讨了两种不同生活型蚯蚓作用效果的异同。结果表明:蚯蚓活动可显著改变土壤氨基酸含量,爱胜蚓作用下土壤酸解氨基酸和游离氨基酸分别增加5.08 g/kg和7.72 mg/kg,环毛蚓作用下土壤酸解氨基酸和游离氨基酸分别增加3.86 g/kg和4.44mg/kg。各处理酸解氨基酸均以中性氨基酸所占比例为最大(平均51.9%),酸性氨基酸次之(平均23.3%),而含硫氨基酸(平均14.4%)及碱性氨基酸最少(平均10.4%)。各处理游离氨基酸同样以中性氨基酸为主,平均54.4%,而以碱性氨基酸含量最少,平均仅为7.2%。蚯蚓活动并未改变土壤氨基酸可检出种类,各处理分别检测出16种酸解氨基酸和14种游离氨基酸。土壤酸解氨基酸和游离氨基酸组分含量在蚯蚓作用下均有明显改变:加入爱胜蚓后土壤酸解氨基酸组分中天冬氨酸、精氨酸、甲硫氨酸、丙氨酸、赖氨酸和甘氨酸增幅较高,均在85.7%以上,缬氨酸、苏氨酸、丝氨酸、谷氨酸、亮氨酸、酪氨酸和组氨酸增幅较小在40.7%—62.7%间波动;加入环毛蚓后土壤酸解氨基酸组分中甲硫氨酸、赖氨酸、天冬氨酸、酪氨酸和丙氨酸增幅较大,均在71.9%以上,甘氨酸、精氨酸、异亮氨酸增幅适中,分别为56.8%、55.6%和54.9%;丝氨酸、亮氨酸、苏氨酸、谷氨酸、组氨酸和苯丙氨酸增幅最小,均在40%以下;游离氨基酸组分中组氨酸、精氨酸、甘氨酸、亮氨酸、异亮氨酸和丙氨酸在加入爱胜蚓后增加的幅度较大,增幅在150.0%以上,增幅较为缓和的氨基酸组分有天冬氨酸、苏氨酸、丝氨酸、缬氨酸、谷氨酸和苯丙氨酸,介于58.8%—92.1%之间;环毛蚓作用下,天冬氨酸、精氨酸、丝氨酸和异亮氨酸增幅最大,分别为184.2%、173.3%、163.0%和116.6%;苏氨酸、亮氨酸、缬氨酸和甘氨酸增幅较缓,介于52.3%—92.7%之间;谷氨酸、组氨酸、苯丙氨酸、丙氨酸和甲硫氨酸增幅较低,均在33.1%之下;而半胱氨酸在蚯蚓作用下显著降低,降幅为11.8%。对比两种生活型蚯蚓作用效果可知,土壤氨基酸总含量及各组分含量在爱胜蚓和环毛蚓作用下的增加或减少趋势相同(土壤酸解氨基酸组分缬氨酸除外),但改变幅度却存在明显差异,总体而言,爱胜蚓作用效果优于环毛蚓。     

丛枝菌根真菌和根瘤菌对白三叶氮同化的影响

为揭示丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)和根瘤菌在白三叶氮(N)同化中的作用,该研究对白三叶进行单一或联合接种隐类球囊霉(Paraglomus occultum)和三叶草根瘤菌(Rhizobium trifolii),分析其对白三叶的生长、光合作用、叶片N和氨基酸含量以及N同化相关酶活性的影响。结果表明:(1)单一接种AMF或根瘤菌以及联合接种AMF和根瘤菌均显著增加了白三叶的株高、匍匐茎长度、叶片数、地上部生物量、总生物量、叶绿素b和总叶绿素含量、稳态光量子效率和叶片N含量,这种增强效应是联合接种>单一AMF>单一根瘤菌>未接种处理。(2)联合接种AMF和根瘤菌显著增加了白三叶叶片中丙氨酸、精氨酸、天冬酰胺、天冬氨酸、谷氨酰胺、谷氨酸和组氨酸的含量,显著提升了叶片N同化相关酶如硝酸还原酶、亚硝酸还原酶、谷氨酰胺合成酶、谷氨酸合成酶、谷氨酸脱氢酶、天冬酰胺合成酶和天冬氨酸转氨酶的活性,显著促进AMF对白三叶根系的侵染。综上认为,联合接种AMF和根瘤菌通过激活N同化相关酶活性有效促进N同化,产生更多氨基酸,进一步促进白三叶植株生长; 联合接种AMF和根瘤菌具有协同作用,有效促进了白三叶的N同化。     

不同产地藏红花游离氨基酸比较分析

目的：研究不同产地藏红花中游离氨基酸含量，为藏红花的研究、产品设计和开发提供理论支持。方法：以云南维西、上海、西藏、伊朗等地藏红花为实验材料，采用氨基酸自动分析仪对藏红花中游离氨基酸进行了测定。结果：（1）供试样品中除上海样品中检出17种游离氨基酸，其余样品均检出18种氨基酸，各样品中氨基酸总量分别为维西3号样品（编号为W3）981.464(mg/100 g)、维西2号样品（编号为W2）882.646 (mg/100 g)、维西1号样品（编号为W1）785.140 (mg/100 g)、西藏样品（编号为XZ）325.106 (mg/100 g)，上海样品（编号为SH）312.369 (mg/100 g)、伊朗样品（编号为YL）310.427 (mg/100 g);(2)在游离氨基酸中，有赖氨酸、苯丙氨酸、苏氨酸、异亮氨酸、亮氨酸、缬氨酸等6种人体必需氨基酸；有谷氨酸、谷氨酰胺、天冬酰胺和天门冬氨酸等4种鲜味氨基酸；有丝氨酸、甘氨酸和丙氨酸等3种甜味氨基酸；有冬酰胺、天冬氨酸、谷氨酸、甘氨酸、亮氨酸、酪氨酸、赖氨酸、苯丙氨酸、精氨酸等9种药效氨基酸；（3）藏红花游离氨基酸中，丙氨酸含量最...     

Regional changes in amino acid levels of the neonate rat brain during anoxia and recovery

The aim of this study was to compare the changes in amino acids (alanine, aspartate, GABA, glutamate, glutamine, glycine, serine taurine) that are produced in different regions of the neonate brain (telencephalon, diencephalon cerebellum, brain stem) following a survivable period of anoxia and after the re-establishment of air respiration. Anoxia provoked different responses in the different regions. The changes during the anoxic period were as follows. In the brain stem there was a decrease in aspartate, in the telencephalon there was a significant increase in GABA and alanine and a decrease in aspartate, in the diencephalon, glutamate and GABA increased, and in the cerebellum, glycine and alanine levels were enhanced. The changes during recovery were even more dissimilar. Here the greatest shifts were seen in the brain stem with increases in glutamine, GABA, aspartate, glycine, serine, alanine, and taurine. In the telencephalon glutamate fell and alanine increased, in the diencephalon GABA increased, and in the cerebellum, glutamate fell while glycine and alanine increased. In none of the major brain regions did the pattern of changes in neurotransmitters correspond to that seen in anoxic tolerant species.     

Effects of Cyclohexanonic Long-Chain Fatty Alcohol, tCFA15 on Amino Acids in Diabetic Rat Brain: A Preliminary Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of streptozotocin-induced type 1diabetes and a subchronic treatment with cyclohexanonic long-chain fatty alcohol, 3-(15-hydroxypentadecyl)-2,4,4-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen 1-one (tCFA15) on contents of amino acids including aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, GABA, glycine, taurine, alanine, serine, threonine, and arginine in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum. Levels of glutamate, threonine, taurine, alanine, arginine, and the ratio of glutamate/glutamine were altered region-differently in the brain of diabetic rats. However, tCFA15 region-specifically antagonized the changes in taurine and arginine levels and the ratio of glutamate/glutamine. The alteration in glutamate/glutamine ratio may indicate that experimental models of type 1 diabetes have abnormalities of neuron-gria interaction in brain.     

Effect of the composition of branched chain amino acids, taurine, and tryptophan on the amino acid metabolism in experimental models of alcoholism

Ethanol withdrawal after forced alcoholization of rats according to Majchrowicz led to the development of amino acid imbalance in the pool of free amino acids in the liver (increasing levels of alanine, aspartate, glutamate, glutamine and histidine, decreasing levels of glycine, lysine, threonine and taurine) and blood plasma (increasing levels of tyrosine and alanine, decreasing levels of most glycogen aminoacids, branched-chain aminoacids and Lys). Less profound changes were observed after prolonged alcohol intoxication (decreasing levels of alanine, ornitine, citrulline and increasing level of Glu in liver, increasing levels of sulfur-containing compounds, Asp and Lys in blood plasma). Amino acid mixture which contained branched-chain amino acids, taurine and tryptophan administered intragastrically was found to correct levels of sulfur-containing amino acids, threonine, lysine and isoleucine after ethanol withdrawal and to eliminate disorders in urea cycle, exchange of threonine, glycine and phenylalanine after prolonged alcohol intoxication.     

Depolarization-Induced Release of Amino Acids From the Vestibular Nuclear Complex

There is evidence from immunohistochemistry, quantitative microchemistry, and pharmacology for several amino acids as neurotransmitters in the vestibular nuclear complex (VNC), including glutamate, γ-aminobutyrate (GABA), and glycine. However, evidence from measurements of release has been limited. The purpose of this study was to measure depolarization-stimulated calcium-dependent release of amino acids from the VNC in brain slices. Coronal slices containing predominantly the VNC were prepared from rats and perfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) in an interface chamber. Fluid was collected from the chamber just downstream from the VNC using a microsiphon. Depolarization was induced by 50 mM potassium in either control calcium and magnesium concentrations or reduced calcium and elevated magnesium. Amino acid concentrations in effluent fluid were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Glutamate release increased fivefold during depolarization in control calcium concentration and twofold in low calcium/high magnesium. These same ratios were 6 and 1.5 for GABA, 2 and 1.3 for glycine, and 2 and 1.5 for aspartate. Differences between release in control and low calcium/high magnesium ACSF were statistically significant for glutamate, GABA, and glycine. Glutamine release decreased during and after depolarization, and taurine release slowly increased. No evidence for calcium-dependent release was found for serine, glutamine, alanine, threonine, arginine, taurine, or tyrosine. Our results support glutamate and GABA as major neurotransmitters in the VNC. They also support glycine as a neurotransmitter and some function for taurine.     

Changes in Histamine Receptors (H1, H2, and H3) Expression in Rat Medial Vestibular Nucleus and Flocculus after Unilateral Labyrinthectomy: Histamine Receptors in Vestibular Compensation

Vestibular compensation is the process of behavioral recovery following peripheral vestibular lesion. In clinics, the histaminergic medicine is the most widely prescribed for the treatment of vertigo and motion sickness, however, the molecular mechanisms by which histamine modulates vestibular function remain unclear. During recovery from the lesion, the modulation of histamine receptors in the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) and the flocculus may play an important role. Here with the means of quantitative real-time PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry, we studied the expression of histamine receptors (H1, H2, and H3) in the bilateral MVN and the flocculus of rats on the 1st, 3rd, and 7th day following unilateral labyrinthectomy (UL). Our results have shown that on the ipsi-lesional flocculus the H1, H2 and H3 receptors mRNA and the protein increased significantly on the 1st and 3rd day, with compare of sham controls and as well the contralateral side of UL. However, on the 7th day after UL, this expression returned to basal levels. Furthermore, elevated mRNA and protein levels of H1, H2 and H3 receptors were observed in the ipsi-lesional MVN on the 1st day after UL compared with sham controls and as well the contralateral side of UL. However, this asymmetric expression was absent by the 3rd post-UL. Our findings suggest that the upregulation of histamine receptors in the MVN and the flocculus may contribute to rebalancing the spontaneous discharge in bilateral MVN neurons during vestibular compensation.     

Release of Endogenous Amino Acids from the Striatum from Developing and Adult Mice in Ischemia

In most other studies the release of amino acid neurotransmitters and modulators in vitro has been studied mostly using labeled preloaded compounds. For several reasons the estimated release may not reliably reflect the release of endogenous compounds. The magnitudes of the release cannot thus be quite correctly estimated using radioactive labels. The basal and K⁺-evoked release of the neuroactive endogenous amino acids γ-aminobutyrate (GABA), glycine, taurine, glutamate and aspartate was now studied in slices from the striatum from 7-day-old to 3-month-old mice under control (normoxic) and ischemic conditions. The release of alanine, threonine and serine was assessed as control. GABA and glutamate release was much greater in 3-month-old than in 7-day-old mice, whereas with taurine the situation was the opposite. Ischemia markedly enhanced the release of all these three amino acids. The release of aspartate and glycine was markedly enhanced as well whereas no effects were discernible in the release of glutamine, alanine, serine and threonine. K⁺ stimulation (50 mM) enhanced the release of GABA, glutamate, taurine, aspartate and glycine in most cases, except with taurine in 3-month-old mice under the ischemic conditions and with aspartate in 7-day-old mice under the control conditions. K⁺ stimulation did not affect the release of glutamine, alanine, serine or threonine. The results on endogenous amino acids are qualitatively similar to those obtained in our earlier experiments with labeled preloaded amino acids. In conclusion, in developing mice only inhibitory taurine is released in such amounts that may counteract the harmful effects of excitatory amino acids in ischemia.     

Levels of several amino acids in the cerebellar peduncles and four medullary nuclei of control and 3-acetylpyridine-treated rats

The levels of aspartate, glutamate, GABA, taurine, glycine, and alanine were determined in the inferior (ICP), middle (MCP) and superior (SCP) cerebellar peduncles, and in the inferior olive (ION), lateral reticular (LRN), lateral vestibular (LVN) and descending trigeminal (DTN) nuclei of control rats and of rats given a single intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg of 3-acetylpyridine (3-AP). The content of glutamate in the MCP and SCP was 30% higher than that found for the ICP. The content of GABA was 4 to 6-fold greater in the SCP than in either the ICP or MCP. The level of taurine in the SCP was 25% lower than the value in the MCP but was not significantly lower than the value for the ICP. The levels of aspartate, glycine, and alanine were evenly distributed among the three peduncles. The contents of aspartate, glutamate, taurine, and alanine were evenly distributed among the four medullary nuclei. The level of glycine was significantly greater in the DTN than in either the LRN or LVN. The content of GABA in the ION and LVN was significantly greater than the value found for the LRN. Injection of 3-AP caused a decrease in the level of taurine of 10% in the ION and LRN, 15% in the LVN, and 25% in the DTN. No other statistically significant differences were found in the levels of the amino acids in the peduncles or medullary nuclei following 3-AP treatment. The present data do not support the idea that asparate and/or taurine are present in relatively high concentrations in the cerebellar climbing fibers.     

In Vitro Release of Endogenous Amino Acids from Granule Cell-, Stellate Cell-, and Climbing Fiber-Deficient Cerebella

Abstract: The K⁺-stimulated, Ca²⁺-dependent release of glutamate, aspartate, -γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), alanine, taurine, and glycine was measured in slices of cerebella obtained from control, and granule cell-, granule cell plus stellate cell-, or climbing fiber-deficient cerebella of the rat. The 55 mm -K⁺-stimulated release of glutamate and GABA was 10-fold greater in the presence of Ca²⁺ than in its absence. The stimulated release of aspartate was 4-fold higher when Ca²⁺ was present in the bathing media, while the value for alanine was twice as high as the amount obtained in the absence of Ca²⁺. There was no stimulated release of either taurine or glycine from the cerebellar slices. Increasing the Mg²⁺ concentration to 16 HIM inhibited the K⁺-stimulated, Ca²⁺-dependent release of glutamate, GABA, aspartate, and alanine 85% or more. The K⁺-stimulated, Ca²⁺ dependent release of glutamate, aspartate, and alanine from x-irradiated cerebella deficient in granule cells was reduced to 50–57% of control value. Additional x-irradiation treatment, which further reduced the cerebellar granule cell population and also prevented the acquisition of stellate cells, decreased the release of glutamate by 77%, aspartate by 66%, alanine by 91%, and, in addition, decreased the release of GABA by 55%. The K⁺-stimulated, Ca²⁺-dependent release of glutamate, aspartate, GABA, and alanine was not changed in climbing fiber-deficient cerebella obtained from 3-acetylpyridine-treated rats. The data support a transmitter role for GABA and glutamate in the cerebellum, but do not support a similar function for either taurine or glycine. The data also suggest that alanine and aspartate may be co-released along with glutamate from granule cells.     

Effect of Impact Trauma on Neurotransmitter and Nonneurotransmitter Amino Acids in Rat Spinal Cord

N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) administration exacerbates neurological dysfunction after traumatic spinal cord injury in rats, whereas NMDA antagonists improve outcome in this model. These observations suggest that release of excitatory amino acids contributes to secondary tissue damage after traumatic spinal cord injury. To further examine this hypothesis, concentrations of free amino acids were measured in spinal cord samples from anesthetized rats subjected to various degrees of impact trauma to the T9 spinal segment. Levels of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter amino acids [gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, aspartate, glycine, taurine] and levels of nonneurotransmitter amino acids (asparagine, glutamine, alanine, threonine, serine) were determined at 5 min, 4 h, and 24 h posttrauma. Uninjured surgical (laminectomy) control animals showed modest but significant declines in aspartate and glutamate levels, but not in other amino acids, at all time points. In injured animals, the excitatory amino acids glutamate and aspartate were significantly decreased by 5 min posttrauma, and remained depressed at 4 h and 24 h as compared with corresponding laminectomy controls. In contrast, the inhibitory amino acids, glycine, GABA, and taurine, were decreased at 5 min postinjury, had partially recovered at 4 h, and were almost fully recovered at 24 h. The nonneurotransmitter amino acids were unchanged at 5 min posttrauma and significantly increased at 4 h, with partial recovery at 24 h. At 4 h postinjury, severe trauma caused significantly greater decreases in aspartate and glutamate than did either mild or moderate injury. These findings are consistent with the postulated role of excitatory amino acids in CNS trauma.