FURTHER STUDIES ON THE BINDING OF γ-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID BY BRAIN

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Abstract
Factors which can interfere with the paper chromatographic – ninhydrin method for determining γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are described. The GABA–ninhydrin reaction does not involve loss of CO2. GABA that is occluded in subcellular particles in plain sucrose homogenates of rat brain does not readily exchange with radioactive GABA in solution. The relevant particles are found mostly in the "mitochondrial fraction". These particles deteriorate with time and manipulations, and tend to lose much of their GABA content. The presence of sodium (but not of potassium, calcium, or magnesium) in the suspending medium allows considerably more GABA to be bound. The extra bound GABA is exchangeable with free labelled GABA. Sodium also promotes some exchange between free and occluded GABA. It is concluded from the present and previous results that in brain in vivo very little GABA exists in a freely diffusing situation. There are two forms of bound GABA. One of these is an occluded or storage form which does not readily exchange with free GABA though exchange is to some extent promoted by sodium ions. The other is a form which occurs only in the presence of sodium ion and is freely exchangeable with GABA in solution.