Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Evaluation of Amino Acid Consumption in Cultured Bone Cells and Isolated Bone Shafts
06:32

Evaluation of Amino Acid Consumption in Cultured Bone Cells and Isolated Bone Shafts

Published on: April 13, 2022

CSF/plasma ratios of amino acids: reference data and transports in children

Tomoyuki Akiyama1, Katsuhiro Kobayashi1, Akihito Higashikage2

  • 1Department of Child Neurology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan.

Brain & Development
|January 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Age, gender, and medications significantly alter amino acid cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/plasma ratios in children. Amino acid transport interactions in children are similar to adults, following established transport system specificities.

Area of Science:

  • Neurochemistry
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amino acid profiles are crucial for neurological function.
  • Understanding the blood-CSF barrier's amino acid transport in children is vital for diagnosing and managing metabolic and neurological disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of age, gender, and medications on amino acid CSF/plasma ratios in children.
  • To compare amino acid transport across the blood-CSF barrier in children versus adults.

Main Methods:

  • Amino acid concentrations in CSF and plasma were measured using ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography.
  • Linear multiple regression analyzed the effects of age, gender, and medications.
  • Correlation analysis examined amino acid transport interactions via CSF/plasma ratios.

Main Results:

  • Age-dependent differences were observed in CSF/plasma ratios for serine, valine, histidine, arginine, and glutamate.
  • Gender influenced ratios for serine, alanine, threonine, valine, and histidine.
  • Specific anti-epileptic drugs (valproate, clobazam, pyridoxal phosphate) altered ratios for various amino acids.
  • Transport interactions among neutral and cationic amino acids in children mirrored adult patterns.

Conclusions:

  • Age, gender, and anti-epileptic drug treatments significantly impact amino acid CSF/plasma ratios in pediatric populations.
  • Amino acid transport mechanisms at the blood-CSF barrier in children are comparable to those in adults.
  • Findings highlight the need to consider demographic and pharmacological factors in pediatric neurochemical assessments.
Abstract

Keywords:
Blood–CSF barrierBlood–brain barrierReference valuesTransport systems

More Related Videos

Quantitative Measurement of Intrathecally Synthesized Proteins in Mice08:23

Quantitative Measurement of Intrathecally Synthesized Proteins in Mice

Published on: November 29, 2019

Quantitative Autoradiographic Method for Determination of Regional Rates of Cerebral Protein Synthesis In Vivo11:01

Quantitative Autoradiographic Method for Determination of Regional Rates of Cerebral Protein Synthesis In Vivo

Published on: June 28, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Protein Buffers in Blood Plasma and Cells01:20

Protein Buffers in Blood Plasma and Cells

The human body utilizes protein buffer systems to maintain a stable pH. These systems capitalize on the dual role of amino acids, which can act as acids or bases by accepting or releasing hydrogen ions in response to pH changes. Protein buffer systems are particularly significant in the extracellular fluid (ECF) and intracellular fluid (ICF) of active cells, where structural and functional proteins provide substantial buffering capacity.
Certain amino acids can exist in a zwitterion state at a...
Drug Distribution: Plasma Protein Binding01:29

Drug Distribution: Plasma Protein Binding

Drugs predominantly attach to plasma proteins, with only a small percentage remaining unbound. The unbound portion can be calculated as one minus the bound fraction. Acidic drugs form large, inactive complexes by reversibly binding to plasma albumin, which prevents them from diffusing across biological barriers. These drug-protein complexes act as reservoirs for the drugs. As the concentration of unbound drugs decreases, these complexes quickly dissociate to release the free drug, maintaining...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...