The influence of agonal status on some neurochemical activities of postmortem human brain tissue

The number of general biochemical and specific neurochemical activities have been investigated in postmortem human brain tissue in relation to the terminal state of the patient. Cases were broadly divided into those dying after a period of normal or near normal health (Category A) and those dying after a prolonged period of severe illness (Category B). Whilst most of the metabolic and transmitter-related enzymes, amino acids and neuropeptides investigated were not significantly different between the two groups, there were in Category B highly significant reductions in glutamate decarboxylase, phosphofructokinase and tissue pH, and increases in several amino acids including, most extensively, tryptophan. The possible use of such activities as 'markers' of agonal status in the selection of normal material and in the matching of control and pathological material in postmortem human brain studies is discussed.