On the formation of gamma-aminobutyric acid from putrescine in brain.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid is not formed in significant amounts from putrescine by incubation with rat brain homogenates. However, it is formed if acetyl-CoA is added to the incubation medium. This is taken as further evidence for the existence of a metabolic pathway in mammalian brain which comprises acetylation of putrescine to monoacetyl putrescine and oxidative deamination of monoacetyl putrescine by MAO. Nerve cells and glia cells have comparable capacities for putrescine degradation along this pathway.