[Change in the concentration of free amino acids in the brain upon exposure to amnesia producing agents].

A comparison was made of free aminoacids content in the brain of rats after amnesia induced by an electric shock or an injection of iproniazid. Immediately after the electric shock the cystine content rises and there is a drop in the content of aspartic acid, proline and isoleucine. Twenty four hours later the content of most of the amino acids rises. A correlation has been found between the glycine content in the brain and the degree of amnesia. Under the influence of iproniazid the content of aspartic and glutamic acids, alanine, tyrosine and phenylalanine in the brain drops and that of proline, glycine, cystine and valine rises. It is assumed that the differences between the content of free aminoacids in the brain after electric shock and iproniazid reflect those between the mechanisms of amnestic action of the two agents.