Free Amino Acid Pattern in the Brain from Rats with Hyperaminoacidemia

An approach to the biochemical mechanism of mental retardation in the inborn errors of amino acid metabolism

Abstract

Hyperaminoacidemia was induced in 17-day-old rats by intraperitoneal injection of a single amino acid and the free amino acid pattern in the brain was analysed at 1 hour after the injection.
A significant alteration of the free amino acid pattern in the brain was observed by the loading of phenylalanine, histidine, valine or methionine, respectively.
These findings suggest that the inhibition of amino acid transport by excess of a single amino acid may result in decrease of essential amino acids and in reduced rate of brain protein synthesis.