Cerebral Glutamine/Glutamate Interrelationships and Metabolic Compartmentation

摘要: The fact that in animals the concentration of glutamate and glutamine are higher brain than any other tissue initially attracted interest attempting to understand function or functions these amino acids central nervous system. They were evidently required for protein synthesis early studies established their close relationship Krebs tricarboxylic acid cycle energy metabolism brain. Glutamine formation was also shown be sensitive elevations plasma ammonia levels serve as primary method detoxifying this substance contrast urea liver. Also noted interesting observation increased occurred hepatic encephalopathy not accompanied by a concomitant decrease glutamic levels. level two apparently tightly coupled despite high synthetase activity is only immediate precursor glutamine. In recent years increasing evidence pointed probability an excitatory neurotransmitter It appears serving various compartmented into pools different sizes which turn over at rates rapid equilibrium with each other.