INCREASED CSF GLUTAMATE FOLLOWING INJECTION OF ALS IMMUNOGLOBULINS

To reconcile the autoimmune and excitotoxic hypotheses regarding the e tiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we injected rats intra peritoneally with ALS immunoglobulins and monitored CSF glutamate, asp artate, glutamine, and glutathione. CSF glutamate was significantly in creased at 24 and 72 hours compared with both basal levels and disease control injected rats. CSF aspartate was increased at 72 hours. Gluta mine and glutathione were unchanged. These data suggest that ALS immun oglobulins may enhance CSF glutamate and aspartate levels and contribu te to motoneuron injury.