Effects of acromelic acid A on the binding of [3H]glutamic acid and [3H]kainic acid to synaptic membranes and on the depolarization at the frog spinal cord.

Triton treatment of synaptic membranes from the frog spinal cord enhanced the specific binding of [3H]glutamic acid compared with non-treated fresh and frozen ones, but not that of [3H]kainic acid. Acromelic acid A specifically inhibited the binding of [3H]kainic acid, and was approximately 100 times more potent than kainic acid. Acromelic acid A and excitatory amino acids caused a depolarization in the ventral root of the frog spinal cord in a dose-dependent manner, and the effect of acromelic acid A was much superior to that of kainic acid or domoic acid. Acromelic acid A is one of the most potent kainic acid agonist at the frog spinal cord.