Effects of glutamic acid, kainic acid and aspartic acid on GABA release from rat retina degenerated by kainic acid.

The effects of L-glutamic acid (Glu), kainic acid (KA) and L-aspartic acid (Asp) on 14C-GABA release from the rat retina degenerated by KA were investigated. In the normal rat retina, Glu initially enhanced GABA release and subsequently inhibited it. Both KA and Asp did not have dual effects; KA enhanced GABA release, while Asp inhibited it. In the KA-degenerated retina, the stimulatory effect of Glu or KA on GABA release was markedly suppressed, while the inhibitory effects of Glu or Asp were preserved.