Cystathionine accumulation in various regions of brain of DL-propargylglycine-treated rats

Abstract

The contents of cystathionine and taurine, as well as cystathionine beta-synthase activity in various regions of the brains of normal and DL-propargylglycine-treated rats, were measured. The content of cystathionine in each region of brain increased gradually from 0.5 mg to 20 mg/200 g body weight in relation to the dose of DL-propargylglycine. Cystathionine was found to be unevenly distributed in brains of both normal and DL-propargylglycine-treated rats. On the other hand, the activity of cystathionine beta-synthase was evenly distributed in various regions of normal rat brain, and was unaltered following treatment of rats with DL-propargylglycine. The concentration of taurine was similarly unaffected by DL-propargylglycine injection.