Gustatory and visceral stimulation from food regulates digestion and nutrient use. Free L-glutamate (Glu) release from digested protein is responsible for umami taste perception in the gut. Moreover, monosodium Glu (MSG) is widely used as a flavor enhancer to add umami taste in various cuisines. Recent studies indicate that dietary Glu sensors and their signal transduction system exist in both ...

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmetal disorder associated with mutations in the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) gene. MeCP2-deficient mice recapitulate the neurological degeneration observed in RTT patients. Recent studies indicated a role of not only neurons but also glial cells in neuronal dysfunction in RTT. We cultured astrocytes from MeCP2-null mouse brain and examined astroglial...

Glutamate (GLU)-induced excitotoxicity is considered to be a frequent cause of cell degeneration in basal ganglia disorders; it is normally prevented by uptake of GLU by astrocytes. We recently found that transient perfusion of GLU in the striatum induces persistent accumulation of GLU in striatal astrocytes that could be from the initial administration or caused by the slow release from neuron...

aAA ay with no add ed glutam ate repeated at end of experiment. bition at the lower (and suboptimal) substrate concentration used in this method.fect of glutamate on apparent serum-y-glu-tamyltranspeptidase activity. and-y-glutamyltranspeptidase activity. of significant effect of L(+)-glu-tamate on serum-y-glutamyltransferase activity det&rmined in the presence of glycyl-glycine. of-y-glutamyl-...

The purpose of the study was to define if anaesthetic action of xylazine could conceivably result from the potentiation of inhibitory neurotransmitters or the inhibition of excitatory neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Rats were injected with xylazine at a dose of 50 mg/kg b.w., and then the hippocampus and thalamencephal were removed at 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, and 6 h after the injec...

The transport and metabolism of glutamine (GLN) and glutamate (GLU) during fetal development exhibit unique characteristics that clearly emphasize the importance of the interaction between the placenta and the fetal liver. GLN is delivered into the fetal circulation at a rate that is the highest of all the amino acids. In contrast, ;90% of fetal plasma GLU is extracted by the placenta. Converse...

Background: Impairment in auditory sensory gating (ASG) has been documented in alcohol dependence [1]. Likewise, it has been shown that ASG becomes abnormal during alcohol administration in otherwise healthy individuals [2]. Patterns of gating abnormality associated with alcohol use are likely associated with an alcohol responsive neurochemical like glutamate (Glu), particularly since it is wel...

Cytochrome P450 46A1 (CYP46A1, cholesterol 24-hydroxylase) is the enzyme responsible for the majority of cholesterol elimination from the brain. Previously, we found that the anti-HIV drug efavirenz (EFV) can pharmacologically activate CYP46A1 in mice. Herein, we investigated whether CYP46A1 could also be activated by endogenous compounds, including major neurotransmitters. In vitro experiments...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, but its proarrhythmic mechanism remains to be elucidated. Glutamate (Glu) and taurine (Tau) are present in the myocardium at substantially higher concentrations than in the plasma, suggesting their active role in myocardium. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the metabolism of Glu and Tau is altered in association with the generat...

We investigated a role for cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) in light/glutamate (GLU)-stimulated state changes of the mammalian circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Nocturnal GLU treatment elevated [cAMP]; however, agonists of cAMP/PKA did not mimic the effects of light/GLU. Coincident activation of cAMP/PKA enhanced GLU-stimulated state changes in early night but blocked light/GLU-i...