Plasma aspartate levels in rats following administration of monopotassium aspartate via three routes.

Plasma aspartate levels were measured after potassium aspartate administration through different routes to rats of various ages. The changes in plasma levels were most significant with intraperitoneal injection. Dose- and age-related responses to aspartate load were obtained. The present data suggest that a marked elevation of plasma aspartate levels may result in neuronal necrosis. By comparing the plasma aspartate levels with the results on hypothalamic lesion (Okaniwa et al., 1979), plasma peak value associated with the lesion was estimated in each case of various administration routes and rat ages.