Open AccessGlutamine Synthetase Induced Spinal Seizures in Rats
Author(s) -
Dong Won Shin,
Yong Soo Yoon,
Masato Matsumoto,
Wen Cheng Huang,
Phil Ceraulo,
Wise Young
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
yonsei medical journal/yonsei medical journal
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.702
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1976-2437
pISSN - 0513-5796
DOI - 10.3349/ymj.2003.44.1.125
Subject(s) - spinal cord , glutamine synthetase , hindlimb , glutamate receptor , pentobarbital , central nervous system , anesthesia , medicine , nmda receptor , glutamine , endocrinology , chemistry , neuroscience , receptor , biology , amino acid , biochemistry
Glutamine synthetase (GS) is a key enzyme in the regulation of glutamate neurotransmission in the central nervous system. It is responsible for converting glutamate to glutamine, consuming one ATP and NH3 in the process. Glutamate is neurotoxic when it accumulates in extracellular fluids. We investigated the effects of GS in both a spinal cord injury (SCI) model and normal rats. 0.1-ml of low (2- micro M) and high (55- micro M) concentrations of GS were applied, intrathecally, to the spinal cord of rats under pentobarbital anesthesia. Immediately after an intrathecal injection into the L1-L3 space, the rats developed convulsive movements. These movements initially consisted of myoclonic twitches of the paravertebral muscles close to the injection site, repeated tonic and clonic contractions and extensions of the hind limbs (hind limb seizures) that spread to the fore limbs, and finally rotational axial movements of the body. An EMG of the paravertebral muscles, fore and hind limbs, showed the extent of the muscle activities. GS (2- micro M) caused spinal seizures in the rats after the SCI, and GS (6- micro M) produced seizures in the uninjured anesthetized rats. Denatured GS (70 degrees C, 1 hour) also produced spinal seizures, although higher concentrations were required. We suggest that GS may be directly blocking the release of GABA, or the receptors, in the spinal cord.