B. Key, R. White
Jul 1, 1970
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Influential Citations
25
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Journal
Neuropharmacology
Abstract
Abstract Overt changes in behaviour and the patterns of electrocortical activity induced by cystathionine, cysteine, homoserine and alpha-ketobutyric acid administered into the lateral cerebral ventricle, were studied in two groups of cats. One group was used for acute studies and in all of these animals the spinal cord was sectioned at the C1 level (encephale isole preparation). This group was given all the different solutions during one experimental period. The other group consisted of chronic preparations with permanently implanted ventricular cannulae. These animals were given single injections of the various experimental solutions at 3–4 day intervals. In the encephale isole preparations cystathionine increased the synchrony of the ECoG and lowered the blood pressure. In contrast, cysteine produced electrocortical desynchronization, raised the blood pressure and usually evoked activity of the facial musculature. The ECoG effects of cysteine were attenuated or blocked by cystathionine. In the chronic preparations, cysteine induced ECoG activation and markedly increased spontaneous motor activity. Cystathionine shortened the period of time to the onset of sleep. The effects of solutions of homoserine, alpha-ketobutyric acid, acidified saline and physiological saline were either absent, or equivocal. It was concluded that in the free form cystathionine, or its cleavage product cysteine, may be important in the normal functioning of the brain and play a role in the pathogenesis of certain inborn errors of metabolism independent of their importance as metabolic intermediaries.