Nitrogen Metabolism of the Brain Part 13. Studies on Ammonia and Amino Acids in the Brain of the Rattus given DMAE, LSD, Frenquel, and various other Drugs on Electric Shock

After treating Rattus with various drugs the author measured the amounts of free ammonia and glutamine in the brain of the test animals by Conway's micro-diffusion analysis and the amino acid content by paper chromatography. The results are as follows: 1. In the brain of the Rattus receiving acute administration of DMAE it has been found that the contents of ammonia, glutamic acid, γ-amino butylic acid, and aspartic acid are increased, but the content of glutamine alone is decreased. 2. In the cases receiving acute admins tration of LSD, a slight decrease in ammonia and glutamine has been recognized, but no marked changes in the amounts of glutamic acid and aspartic acid. Only γ-amino butylic acid has been found to have dec reased. 3. In the cases receiving acute administration of Frenquel, ammonia, glutamine, giutamic acid and γ-amino butyli acid are all decreased, whereas only aspartic acid shows no marked changes. 4. In the cases receiving acute administration of Isomytal, the ammonia content in the brain is markedly decreased, but when electric shock is given under this condition, the ammonia content in the brain increases to that above normal. 5. In the cases receiving acute administration of Reserpine, ammonia decseases markedly, but even when electric shock is given under this condition, there is no increase in the amount of ammonia. 6. When electric shock is given to the Rattus whose ammonia content in the brain has previously been increased by administration of Philopon, no further increase in the ammonia content can be elicited.