Spinal cord ischemia-induced elevation of amino acids: extracellular measurement with microdialysis.

Excitatory amino acids have been implicated in the production of calcium mediated neuronal death following central nervous system ischemia. We have used microdialysis to investigate changes in the extracellular concentrations of amino acids in the spinal cord after aortic occlusion in the rabbit. Glutamate, aspartate, glutamine, asparagine, glycine, taurine, valine, and leucine were measured in the microdialysis perfusate by high pressure liquid chromatography. The concentrations of glutamate, glycine, and taurine were significantly higher during ischemia and reperfusion than controls. Delayed elevations in the concentrations of asparagine and valine were also detected. The elevation of glutamate is consistent with the hypothesis that excitotoxins may mediate neuronal damage in the ischemic spinal cord. Increased extracellular concentrations of asparagine and valine may reflect preferential use of amino acids for energy metabolism under ischemic conditions. The significance of increased concentrations of inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitters is unclear.