EFFECTS OF THE IN-VITRO TREATMENT WITH GANGLIOSIDES ON THE RELEASE OFENDOGENOUS AMINO-ACIDS FROM RAT HYPOXIC ATRIA

1 In the rat isolated atria the in vitro exposure to 60 min of hypoxia in the absence of glucose followed by 30 min of reoxygenation increas ed the release of the amino acids glutamate (Glu) and taurine (Tau). T he efflux of the remaining amino acids assayed (aspartate, glycine and alanine) did not change throughout the period studied. 2 The increase in Tau release started 45 min after the onset of the hypoxic period w hereas that of Glu started during the reoxygenation phase. These incre ases were not observed when glucose was present during the hypoxic per iod. 3 The in vitro pretreatment for 2h with 50 mu M bovine brain gang liosides (BEG) prevented the increases in the release of Tau and Glu i nduced by the hypoxia reoxygenation. 4 These results constitute a furt her example where BEG appears to exert a protective role in cardiac ti ssues submitted to injuries.