ALPHA-GUANIDINOGLUTARIC ACID AS A FREE-RADICAL GENERATOR

alpha-Guanidinoglutaric acid (alpha-GGA) was first isolated from the c obalt-induced epileptic focus of cat cerebral cortex by us in 1980. al pha-GGA could induce behavioral convulsion as well as electroencephalo graphy-documented epileptic seizures, when it was administered into th e brain. alpha-GGA was also found to be a potent nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, suggesting that suppression of this activity may result in epileptic seizures. It is now observed that alpha-GGA generates react ive oxygen species as superoxide and hydroxyl radicals in aqeuous solu tion. These findings suggest that reactive oxygen species may damage c ell membranes, thus leading to neuronal depolarization, which is close ly related to epileptogenesity.