Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 25, 2025

Using Enzyme-based Biosensors to Measure Tonic and Phasic Glutamate in Alzheimer's Mouse Models
Published on: May 3, 2017
Effects of tranexamic acid on the activity of glutamate transporter EAAT3
Hyun-Jung Shin1, Soo-Young Lee2, Hyo-Seok Na1
1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
Background:
Tranexamic acid (TXA) is the most widely used hemostatic agent in surgical patients. However, when used in a high dose, it could cause a seizure in the postoperative period. The exact effector mechanism behind the seizure triggering remains unknown. Therefore, the authors investigated the effects of TXA on the activity of glutamate transporter type 3 (excitatory amino acid transporter 3; EAAT3), which is the main neuronal glutamate transporter type.
Methods:
EAAT3 was expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes through mRNA injection. Oocytes were incubated with diluted tranexamic acid for 72 h. Two-electrode voltage clamping was used to measure membrane currents before, during, and after applying 30 µM L-glutamate. Responses were quantified by integrating the current traces and reported in microcoulombs (µC). Results were presented as mean ± SEM.
Results:
TXA (30 to 1,000 µM) significantly decreased EAAT3 activity. Our kinetic study showed that Vmax was significantly decreased in the TXA group compared with the control group (1.1 ± 0.1 vs. 1.4 ± 0.1 µC, n = 18-23, P = 0.043), but the Km did not significantly change (12.7 ± 3.9 µM for TXA vs. 12.8 ± 3.8 for control, n = 18-23, P = 0.986).
Conclusions:
Our results suggest that TXA attenuates EAAT3 activity, which may explain its proconvulsant effect.
Related Concept Videos
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Effects of EDTA on End-Point Detection Methods
In the visual method, metal-ion indicators (metallochromic dyes), which have distinct colors in their free and complex forms, are added to the mixture to signal the titration's end point. They form stable complexes with metal ions, but these complexes are weaker than the corresponding metal–EDTA complexes. As a...
ABC Transporters: Exporter
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...

