ASPARTATE, GLUTAMATE, GLUTAMINE, GLYCINE AND GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC-ACID IN HUMAN BIOPTIC NEOCORTICAL AREAS - COMPARISON TO AUTOPTIC TISSUE

Amino acid concentrations were determined by high performance liquid c hromatography in distinct areas of human neocortex of autoptic and bio ptic origin. The concentrations in autoptic tissue were similar in all cortical areas which may be explained by postmortem proteolysis, abol ishing regional differences seen in bioptic tissue. Aspartate, glutama te, glycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid concentrations were lower, but glutamine levels were higher, in biopsied than in autopsied tissue. G lycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid concentrations increased with the a ge of biopsied patients. The differences seen suggest that only amino acid concentrations determined in bioptic tissue may yield a reliable data base for the interpretation of pathological alterations in neocor tical biopsies of patients with brain diseases. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scie nce Ireland Ltd.