Glutamate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase in leukocytes of patients with motor neuron disease.

We report the results of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AAT) activities in leukocytes of 24 patients with motor neuron disease (MND) and 20 matched control subjects. In 62.5% of patients suffering from MND, we detected a leukocyte GDH deficiency (+/- 2 SD) as compared with the mean value obtained in controls. By contrast, there was no difference in leukocyte AAT activities in affected and nonaffected subjects. Abnormal cellular glutamate metabolism might be involved in the pathogenesis of MND.