This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Petroff, O. A. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Petroff, O. A. C. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Hazardous Substances DB GLUTAMIC ACID HYDROCHLORIDE Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Book Review: GABA and Glutamate in the Human Brain

Department of Neurology Yale University New Haven, Connecticut

Cortical excitability reflects a balance between excitation and inhibition. Glutamate is the main excitatory and GABA the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian cortex. Changes in glutamate and GABA metabolism may play important roles in the control of cortical excitability. Glutamate is the metabolic precursor of GABA, which can be recycled through the tricarboxylic acid cycle to synthesize glutamate. GABA synthesis is unique among neurotransmitters, having two separate isoforms of the rate-controlling enzyme, glutamic acid decarboxylase. The need for two separate genes on two chromosomes to control GABA synthesis is unexplained. Two metabolites of GABA are present in uniquely high concentrations in the human brain. Homocarnosine and pyrrolidinone have a major impact on GABA metabolism in the human brain. Both of these GABA metabolites have anticonvulsant properties and can have a major impact on cortical excitability.

Key Words: Gamma-aminobutyric acid • Homocarnosine • Pyrrolidinone • Human • Brain

The Neuroscientist, Vol. 8, No. 6, 562-573 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/1073858402238515


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. J. Stagg, J. G. Best, M. C. Stephenson, J. O'Shea, M. Wylezinska, Z. T. Kincses, P. G. Morris, P. M. Matthews, and H. Johansen-Berg Polarity-Sensitive Modulation of Cortical Neurotransmitters by Transcranial Stimulation J. Neurosci., April 22, 2009; 29(16): 5202 - 5206. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S Vulliemoz, G Vanini, A Truffert, C Chizzolini, and M Seeck Epilepsy and cerebellar ataxia associated with anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies BMJ Case Reports, February 2, 2009; 2009(jan27_1): bcr0920080977 - bcr0920080977. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. Sitcheran, W. C. Comb, P. C. Cogswell, and A. S. Baldwin Essential Role for Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Glutamate Receptor Signaling to NF-{kappa}B Mol. Cell. Biol., August 15, 2008; 28(16): 5061 - 5070. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S Vulliemoz, G Vanini, A Truffert, C Chizzolini, and M Seeck Epilepsy and cerebellar ataxia associated with anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, February 1, 2007; 78(2): 187 - 189. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Hasler, J. W. van der Veen, T. Tumonis, N. Meyers, J. Shen, and W. C. Drevets Reduced Prefrontal Glutamate/Glutamine and {gamma}-Aminobutyric Acid Levels in Major Depression Determined Using Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Arch Gen Psychiatry, February 1, 2007; 64(2): 193 - 200. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. O'Mahony, J. Raber, M. Montano, E. Foehr, V. Han, S.-m. Lu, H. Kwon, A. LeFevour, S. Chakraborty-Sett, and W. C. Greene NF-{kappa}B/Rel Regulates Inhibitory and Excitatory Neuronal Function and Synaptic Plasticity. Mol. Cell. Biol., October 1, 2006; 26(19): 7283 - 7298. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Buschdorf, L. Li Chew, B. Zhang, Q. Cao, F.-Y. Liang, Y.-C. Liou, Y. T. Zhou, and B. C. Low Brain-specific BNIP-2-homology protein Caytaxin relocalises glutaminase to neurite terminals and reduces glutamate levels. J. Cell Sci., August 15, 2006; 119(Pt 16): 3337 - 3350. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. H. Woo and B. Lu Regulation of Cortical Interneurons by Neurotrophins: From Development to Cognitive Disorders Neuroscientist, February 1, 2006; 12(1): 43 - 56. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. V. Choudary, M. Molnar, S. J. Evans, H. Tomita, J.Z. Li, M. P. Vawter, R. M. Myers, W. E. Bunney Jr., H. Akil, S. J. Watson, et al. Altered cortical glutamatergic and GABAergic signal transmission with glial involvement in depression PNAS, October 25, 2005; 102(43): 15653 - 15658. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]