ACETYLASPARTIC ACID AND AMMONIA POISONING

Abstract
Acetylaspartic acid has been followed in nine tissues of normal and ammonia-poisoned rats. This acetylated amino acid is present at high concentrations in normal brain and remains unchanged in ammonia-poisoned brain. Acetylaspartic acid is absent or present in trace amounts in normal liver. It increases appreciably in ammonium acetate poisoning, reaching a peak at death. No change in concentration was detectable in the other tissues examined. There is a correlation between aspartic and acetylaspartic acid in the liver. But no correlation was observed between acetylaspartic acid on the one hand and ammonia and urea on the other. The possible origins of acetylaspartic acid are discussed.