Distribution of free amino acids in coma due to acute barbiturate poisoning in guinea pigs.

The cerebral protein and amino acid concentrations in guinea pigs coma due to barbiturate poisoning have been studies. Some significant alterations in systemic and central amino acid patterns have been found, giving rise to a hypothesis about the biochemical pathways involved in the coma. An attempt to correlate the amino acid changes and cerebral energetic 'need' is also reported.