Homocysteic acid: convulsant action of stereoisomers in mice.

Abstract

An effect of excitatory amino acid antagonists, 2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoate (AP7), a selective N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist, and gamma-D-glutamylaminomethylsulphonate (gamma-D-GAMS), a preferential kainate/quisqualate antagonist, on convulsions induced by intracerebroventricular administration of stereoisomers of homocysteic acid (HCA) was tested in mice. AP7, 0.025 mumol, blocked myoclonic seizures induced by L-HCA and D,L-HCA, and had no anticonvulsant action against D-HCA, gamma-D-GAMS, 0.5 mumol, was preferentially active against myoclonic seizures induced by D-HCA, had moderate anticonvulsant action against D,L-HCA, and no effect against seizures induced by L-HCA. These results indicate that activation of NMDA receptors contributes substantially to the convulsant action of L-HCA, while the convulsant action of D-HCA may be mediated mainly by non-NMDA related mechanisms.

• Authors: W A Turski
• Journal: Brain research (Brain Res) Vol. 479 Issue 2 Pg. 371-3 (Feb 13 1989) ISSN: 0006-8993 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 2647211 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Convulsants
• Homocysteine
• homocysteic acid
• Aspartic Acid
• N-Methylaspartate
• Kainic Acid

Topics

• Animals
• Aspartic Acid (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Convulsants (pharmacology)
• Homocysteine (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Injections, Intraventricular
• Kainic Acid (pharmacology)
• Male
• Mice
• N-Methylaspartate
• Seizures (chemically induced, metabolism)
• Stereoisomerism