[Renal glutamine metabolism in man during treatment with sodium valproate]

The administration of 1500 mg sodium valproate to 20 patients provoked in the kidney an increased glutamine uptake correlated with an increased ammonia release, as shown by the changes of the renal arterial-venous concentration differences of glutamine and ammonia. VPA's action on the renal cell may perhaps constitute a valid model for elucidating the effects of this drug on neurons.