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In Vitro Release of Endogenous β‐ Alanine, GABA, and Glutamate, and Electrophysiological Effect of β‐Alanine in Pigeon Optic Tectum
Author(s) -
Toggenburger Gerhard,
Felix Dominik,
Cuénod Michel,
Henke Hermann
Publication year - 1982
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 - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1982.tb04716.x
Subject(s) - glutamate receptor , alanine , endogeny , electrophysiology , neuroscience , chemistry , in vitro , biophysics , biology , biochemistry , amino acid , receptor
The efflux of 20 amino acids, induced by either high K + concentration or veratrine, was determined in pigeon tectal slices. Ca 2+ ‐dependent, K + ‐induced release of β ‐alanine, γ ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), and glutamate was observed. Veratrine caused release of the same amino acids plus glycine in a tetrodotoxin‐sensitive manner. β ‐Alanine had a strong inhibitory effect on the activity of tectal neurons which was blocked by strychnine but not by bicuculline. The results indicated a transmitter function for β ‐alanine in the optic tectum, and were consistent with the previously proposed transmitter role of GABA and glutamate in this structure.