Regional concentrations of transmitter amino acids after spinal cord ischaemia in the rabbit

Concentrations of Asp, Glu, Gly, GABA and Gln were studied in the ventral and dorsal horns of the rabbit spinal cord after ligation of the abdominal aorta. The most significant changes observed after 10, 20 and 40 min ischaemia were an increase in the Asp and GABA concentration in the ventral horns and an increase in the Asp, Gly and GABA concentration in the dorsal horns. These changes correspond to shifts in the relevant reactions under conditions of the altered redox equilibrium in the tissue during ischaemia. Four days after 10 min ischaemia, amino acid concentrations in the spinal cord were at the control levels. Four days after 20 and 40 min ischaemia Asp, Gly and GABA concentrations were decreased in the ventral horns and Asp, Gly, GABA and Glu concentrations in the dorsal horns. The percentually greater decrease in the concentration in the ventral horns may be associated with the greater morphological damage to these structures.