Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 1, 2026

A High-performance Liquid Chromatography Measurement of Kynurenine and Kynurenic Acid: Relating Biochemistry to Cognition and Sleep in Rats
Published on: August 19, 2018
Reduced kynurenine aminotransferase-I activity in SHR rats may be due to lack of KAT-Ib activity
V Kapoor1, S J Thuruthyil, B Human
1Faculty of Medicine, School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney, Australia.
Abstract:
Kynurenine aminotransferase I (KAT-I), which also shows glutamine transaminase K (GTK) activity, catalyses the conversion of kynurenine to kynurenic acid, an endogenous glutamate antagonist. Both the GTK and KAT enzyme activities were found to be significantly reduced in kidney, brain and medulla oblongata homogenates of spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) compared to Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Enzyme activity stains on native gel separations of partially purified kidney homogenates was associated with two major bands of GTK (KAT-I)-activity in WKY and Wistar rats, KAT-Ia and KAT-Ib. SHR rats however showed only KAT-Ia activity. These findings suggest that the absence of KAT-Ib activity may result in a reduced ability to synthesise kynurenic acid in SHR rats, this may help to explain the enhanced sensitivity to glutamate seen in this strain.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis
Antihypertensive Drugs: Direct Renin Inhibitors
Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System
Renal Failure: Dose Adjustments
Reduced renal clearance and elimination rate are common outcomes of renal impairment. These alterations lead to a prolonged elimination half-life and an altered apparent volume of distribution for drugs. As a result, dosage adjustments are typically necessary to maintain optimal drug levels in the body.
However, dosage adjustments...
Pharmacogenetics of Phase II Enzymes: N-acetyltransferase, Thiopurine S-methyltransferase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase
Chronic Kidney Disease III: Interprofessional Care

