Citrate synthase activity increases in homogenates of the cerebral cortex from rats treated with the convulsant 3-mercaptopropionic acid.

The administration of the convulsant 3-mercaptopropionic acid (150 mg/kg i.p.) increased the respiratory capacity of mitochondria isolated from rat cerebral cortex. This increase was observed when pyruvate-malate were used as substrates, but oxygen uptake was not activated with succinate, glutamate-malate or ?-ketoglutarate. Citrate synthase activity in rat brain homogenates increased (about 40%) after the administration of convulsant doses of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (50 and 150 mg/kg). This effect was found after seizures but not during seizures or after a dose that did not produce convulsions (20 mg/kg). The enhancement of citrate synthase activity was observed at various oxaloacetate concentrations, with an increase in V(max). The enhancement was still evident after incubation and removal of the soluble phase by centrifugation, but not after freeze-thawing.