[Detection of amino acid neurotransmitters in cerebrospinal fluid of patients in persistent vegetative state].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To detect the amino acid neurotransmitters in cerebrospinal fluid of patients in persistent vegetative state (PVS) to define their relation to the clinical manifestations of the patients.

METHODS:

The cerebrospinal fluid from 46 patients in PVS and 20 control patients were collected for detection of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, alanine and glycine by high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS:

All the four amino acids were separated by chromatography within 25 min. The contents of all the 4 neurotransmitters in PVS group were higher than those in the control group, and their contents were inversely correlated to PVS score of the patients. The differences in the concentration of glycine and alanine were significant between PVS patients and the control patients (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:

The patient's clinical manifestations are related to the contents of amino acid neurotransmitters in the cerebrospinal fluid of PVS patients.

• Authors: Yan-wu Guo, Ru-xiang Xu
• Journal: Di 1 jun yi da xue xue bao = Academic journal of the first medical college of PLA (Di Yi Jun Yi Da Xue Xue Bao) Vol. 25 Issue 1 Pg. 71-4 (Jan 2005) ISSN: 1000-2588 [Print] China
• PMID: 15684002 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Aspartic Acid
• Glutamic Acid
• Alanine
• Glycine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Alanine (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Aspartic Acid (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Brain Injuries (complications)
• Child
• Female
• Glutamic Acid (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Glycine (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Persistent Vegetative State (cerebrospinal fluid, etiology)