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Effects of selective doses of x-irradiation on the levels of several amino acids in the cerebellum of the rat

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Abstract

The cerebella of rats were exposed to selective doses of low levels of x-irradiation beginning on day 4, 8, or 12 following birth. The doses of x-irradiation given on days 12, 13, and 15 (12–15X group) resulted in a 24% reduction in the wet weight of the cerebella; the doses given on days 8, 9, 11, 13, and 15 (8–15X group) resulted in a 57% weight reduction; the doses given on days 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 (4–15X group) resulted in a 67% weight reduction. The schedule of x-irradiation begun on day 12, which prevented the acquisition of the late-forming granule cells, reduced the levels (nmole/mg dry tissue weight) of alanine (22%) and glutamate (10%), and increased the levels of glycine (15%), GABA (13%), and taurine (71%), with respect to control values. The schedule begun on day 8, which prevented the acquisition of stellate and granule cells, reduced the levels of alanine (15%), glutamate (12%), and taurine (21%), and increased the levels of glycine (102%) and GABA (56%). The schedule begun on day 4, which prevented the acquisition of basket, stellate, and granule cells, reduced the level of glutamate (15%) and increased the levels of glycine (186%) and GABA (78%). The levels of alanine and taurine in the cerebella of the 4–15X group were the same as control values. The level of aspartate in the cerebella of the 3 groups of x-irradiated animals was not significantly different from control values. The consistent reduction in the level of glutamate as a function of the number of doses of x-irradiation is suggestive that glutamate may have a higher level in the granule cells than in other cells in the cerebellum, and that the higher level may be a reflection of a possible excitatory transmitter role for glutamate. In addition, the data are interpreted in terms of taurine being associated with the stellate cells and possibly serving as a transmitter for these inhibitory interneurons.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Basic Neural Sciences, Institute of Psychiatric Research and Departments of Psychiatry and Biochemistry, Indiana University School of Medicine, 46202, Indianapolis, Indiana

    W. J. McBride, N. S. Nadi, J. Altman & M. H. Aprison

  2. Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 47907, Lafayette, Indiana

    J. Altman

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  1. W. J. McBride
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  2. N. S. Nadi
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  3. J. Altman
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  4. M. H. Aprison
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McBride, W.J., Nadi, N.S., Altman, J. et al. Effects of selective doses of x-irradiation on the levels of several amino acids in the cerebellum of the rat. Neurochem Res 1, 141–152 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00966106

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