INHIBITORY AND EXCITATORY AMINO-ACIDS IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID OF NEUROLATHYRISM PATIENTS, A HIGHLY PREVALENT MOTORNEURONE DISEASE

Neurolathyrism is caused by overconsumption of seeds containing 3-N-ox alyl-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid (beta-ODAP). Amino acids levels of ce rebrospinal fluid (CSF) were studied in 50 patients with neurolathyris m and 12 healthy volunteers. The levels of excitatory amino acids glut amate and aspartate were 281% and 71% respectively of control values. The concentration of inhibitory amino acids glycine and taurine were 2 77% and 198% respectively of the levels in CSF from control individual s, There was a significant correlation between the level of glycine an d the duration of the disease. We also found increased levels of threo nine, serine and alanine. In contrast to reports on other motor neuron e diseases where an increase of isoleucine was observed we found a sig nificant decrease of isoleucine. The results suggest a disturbance of amino acid metabolism due to excitotoxic damages caused by beta-ODAP, a dietary excitatory amino acid.