2-Oxo-[14C]glutarate is taken up by glutamatergic nerve terminals in the rat striatum.

High affinity uptake of [14C]glutamate into rat striatal synaptosomes was reduced by 33% after bilateral cortical ablation. The lesion had no effect on striatal [14C]GABA uptake, but reduced 2-oxo-[14C]glutarate uptake by 67%. The results demonstrate the existence of a high-affinity uptake site for 2-oxoglutarate on glutamatergic nerve terminals and support the contention that this Krebs cycle intermediate may be used to replenish the neuronal pool of neurotransmitter glutamate. 2-Oxo-[14C]glutarate uptake may serve as a selective marker for glutamatergic neurones.