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High Levels of Glycine and Serine as a Cause of the Seizure Symptoms of Cavernous Angiomas?
Author(s) -
Von Essen Claes,
Rydenhag Bertil,
Nyström Britta,
Mozzi Rita,
Van Gelder Nico,
Hamberger Anders
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1996.67010260.x
Subject(s) - glycine , hemosiderin , glutamate receptor , nmda receptor , serine , epilepsy , neurodegeneration , chemistry , medicine , amino acid , neuroscience , receptor , pathology , biology , biochemistry , enzyme , disease
Cavernous angiomas are vascular malformations that cause neurodegeneration and symptoms including epileptiform seizures, headache, and motor deficits. Following neurosurgical removal of the angiomas, patients mostly recover well and become seizure‐free. This study reports on the levels of certain amino acids in angiomas, obtained from 13 patients. Distinct zones of the angiomas were analyzed, from the thrombotic core, via gliotic, hemosiderin‐infiltrated intermediate zones, to a periphery without macroscopic abnormalities. The neurotransmitter amino acids glutamate, aspartate, and GABA as well as phosphoethanolamine displayed decreasing levels from the periphery to the core, reflecting the gradual neuronal loss. Compared with normal brain tissue, there was a marked increase in the levels of serine (fivefold), glycine (10‐fold), and ethanolamine (20‐fold) in the peripheral zone of the cavernous angiomas. The results are discussed in relation to seizures and NMDA receptor activation, neuron‐glia interactions, membrane phospholipids, and blood‐brain barrier function.