AGE-DEPENDENT CHANGES IN SOME ASPECTS OF GLUTAMATE METABOLISM IN THE BRAIN OF THE TELEOST, CHANNA-PUNCTATUS .1. AMMONIA AND GLUTAMINE CONTENTS AND GLUTAMATE-DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY

Age related changes in some aspects of glutamate metabolism were follo wed in the brain of a short lived species of tropical murrel, Channa p unctatus. Both ammonia and glutamine contents of brain increased with advancing age of the murrel. The glutamate dehydrogenase activity of b rain increased during maturation phase (year classes +0-3+) followed b y a decline in senescence phase (year classes 3+-6+). The pattern of a ge changes in glutamate metabolism in this species of fish shows simil arity with the observations made in a majority of mammalian species, t hereby suggesting a commonality in a basic metabolic mechanism during aging process in the central nervous system of vertebrates.