Effects of neuroleptics on glutaminase from rat synaptosomes

Phosphate-activated glutaminase was isolated from synaptosomes from three areas of rat brain. Glutamine utilization phosphate activation and inhibition by glutamate or ammonia were assessed in the absence or presence of haloperidol, chlorpromazine, or clozapine. All three drugs (at 1 micromolar concentration) elevated the Km for glutamine using preparations from the amygdala, hippocampus, or striatum. They interfered with phosphate activation only in the amygdala preparation. No drug affected end-product inhibition. The data suggest that neuroleptics may depress the release of glutamic acid from synaptosomes by interfering with the activation of glutaminase by phosphate.