Summary
The turnover of GABA (estimated from the post-mortem accumulation of GABA), and the activity of glutamic acid decarboxylase and GABA transaminase, along with the saturation of both enzymes by cofactor pyridoxal phosphate, were studied in the substantia nigra of rats of both sexes. Although no sex differences were found in the in vitro measured characteristics of both enzymes involved in GABA metabolism, the turnover of GABA was greater in males. This finding is consistent with our previous reports showing the greater resistance of male rats to GABA-related convulsions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bertilsson L, Mao CC, Costa E (1977) Application of principles of steady-state kinetics to the estimation ofγ-aminobutyric acid turnover rate in nuclei of rat brain. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 200: 277–284
Carlsson M, Svensson K, Eriksson E, Carlsson A (1985) Rat brain serotonin: Biochemical and functional evidence for a sex difference. J Neural Transm 63: 297–313
Dark KA, Ellman G, Peeke HVS, Galin D, Reus VI (1984) Sex differences and asymmetries of catecholamines: Relation to turning preferences. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 20: 327–330
Earley CJ, Leonard BE (1978) GABA and gonadal hormones. Brain Res 155: 27–34
Frankfurt M, Fuchs E, Wuttke W (1984) Sex differences inγ-aminobutyric acid and glutamate concentrations in discrete rat brain nuclei. Neurosci Lett 50: 245–250
Gale K (1985) Mechanisms of seizure control mediated byγ-aminobutyric acid: Role of the substantia nigra. Fed Proc 44: 2414–2424
Guidotti A, Cheney DL, Trabucchi M, Doteuchi M, Wang F (1974) Focussed microwave irradiation. A technique to minimize post mortem changes of cyclic nucleotides, dopa and choline and to preserve brain morphology. Neuropharmacology 13: 1–7
Hall ZW, Kravitz EA (1967) The metabolism ofγ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the lobster nervous system-I. J Neurochem 14: 45–54
Hirsh HE, Robins E (1962) Distribution ofγ-aminobutyric acid in the layers of the cerebral and cerebellar cortex. Implications for its physiological role. J Neurochem 9: 63–70
Iadarola MJ, Gale K (1982) Substantia nigra: Site of anticonvulsant activity mediated byγ-aminobutyric acid. Science 218: 1237–1240
König JFR, Klippel RA (1963) The rat brain: a stereotaxic atlas of the forebrain and lower parts of the brain stem. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore
Lindgren S, Andén N-E (1985) Effect of the normal nerve impulse flow on the synthesis and utilization of GABA in the rat substantia nigra. J Neural Transm 61: 21–34
Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193: 265–275
Luine VN, McEwen BS (1983) Sex differences in cholinergic enzymes of diagonal band nuclei in the rat preoptic area. Neuroendocrinology 36: 475–482
Manev H, Peričić D (1986) Orchidectomy affects picrotoxin-induced convulsions differently in mice compared to rats. IRCS Med Sci 14: 1048–1049
Manev H, Peričić D, Manojlović-Manev R, Geber J (1986) Sex differences in the response of rats to Cl−-channel blocking agent picrotoxin. Period Biol 88: 161–163
Manev H, škrlec T, Peričić D (1985) Sex differences in the locomotor activity of rats and mice and in the brain GABA content of rats. Period Biol 87: 423–424
Mansky T, Mestres-Ventura P, Wuttke W (1982) Involvement of GABA in the feedback action of estradiol on gonadotropin and prolactin release: hypothalamic GABA and catecholamine turnover rates. Brain Res 231: 353–364
Mao CC, Peralta E, Morini F, Costa E (1978) The turnover rate ofγ-aminobutyric acid in the substantia nigra following electrical stimulation or lesioning of the strionigral pathways. Brain Res 155: 147–152
McGinnis MY, Gordon JH, Gorski RA (1980) Time course and localization of the effects of estrogen on glutamic acid decarboxylase activity. J Neurochem 34: 785–792
Miller LP, Martin DL, Mazumder A, Walters JR (1978) Studies on the regulation of GAB A synthesis: Substrate promoted dissociation of pyridoxal-5-phosphate from GAD. J Neurochem 30: 361–369
Nicoletti F, Patti F, Ferrara N, Canonico PL, Giammona G, Condorelli DF, Scapagnini U (1982) Comparative effects of estrogens and prolactin on nigral and striatal GAD activity. Brain Res 232: 238–241
Nicoletti F, Speciale C, Sorinto MA, Panetta MS, DiGiorgio RM, Canonico PL (1985) Estrogen effects on nigral glutamic acid decarboxylase activity: A possible role for catecholestrogen. Eur J Pharmacol 115: 297–300
Peričić D, Eng N, Walters JR (1978) Post-mortem and aminooxyacetic acid-induced accumulation of GABA: Effect of gamma-butyrolactone and picrotoxin. J Neurochem 30: 767–773
Peričić D, Manev H, Geber J (1986) Sex related differences in the response of mice, rats and cats to administration of picrotoxin. Life Sci 38: 905–913
Peričić D, Manev H, Lakić N (1985) Sex differences in the response of rats to drugs affecting GABAergic transmission. Life Sci 36: 541–547
Peričić D, Walters JR, Chase TN (1977) Effect of diazepam and pentobarbital on aminooxyacetic acid-induced accumulation of GABA. J Neurochem 29: 839–846
Van Hartesveldt C, Joyce JN (1986) Effects of estrogen on basal ganglia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 10: 1–14
Walters JR, Eng N, Peričić D, Miller LP (1978) Effects of aminooxyacetic acid and L-glutamic acid-γ-hydrazide on GABA metabolism in specific brain regions. J Neurochem 30: 759–766
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Manev, H., Peričić, D. Sex difference in the turnover of GABA in the rat substantia nigra. J. Neural Transmission 70, 321–328 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01253606
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01253606