EFFECTS OF THE NERVE AGENTS SOMAN AND TABUN ON THE UPTAKE AND RELEASEOF GABA AND GLUTAMATE IN SYNAPTOSOMES OF GUINEA-PIG CEREBRAL-CORTEX

1. Crude and purified synaptosomes were prepared from the cerebral cor tex of the rat or the guinea pig and used to study the uptake and rele ase of [H-3]GABA and [H-3]glutamate. 2. Baclofen at 10(-5) M inhibited stimulated release of [H-3]GABA from crude rat and guinea pig synapto somes, but not from purified rat synaptosomes. 3. 1-2 mM tabun decreas ed the uptake of [H-3]GABA and increased the uptake of [H-3]glutamate by purified guinea pig synaptosomes. 4. Soman and tabun at 10(-6) M an d 10(-5) M inhibited basal release of [H-3]GABA and [H-3]glutamate fro m crude guinea pig synaptosomes. Tabun at 10(-5) M decreased stimulate d release of [H-3]GABA while soman had no effect. 5. The results do no t sustain the possibility that nerve agents cause convulsions by affec ting the uptake or release of GABA or glutamate. However indirect evid ence was obtained that soman and tabun inhibit catabolism of GABA and glutamate.