Effect of L-cycloserine on brain GABA metabolism.

The administration of L-cycloserine to mice resulted in a dramatic decrease in the activities of 4-aminobutyrate:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GABA-T) and L-alanine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (ALA-T) in both brain and liver. L-Aspartate:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase was inhibited only slightly, and brain glutamic acid decarboxylase not at all. Liver ALA-T activity returned to near normal levels within 24 h of L-cycloserine administration whereas liver GABA-T and brain ALA-T activities had returned only halfway to normal levels in the same time period. The recovery in the activity of brain GABA-T was even slower. A consequence of the inhibition of brain GABA-T activity was an elevation in the GABA content of the tissue which was maximal 3 h after L-cycloserine administration and which was still noticeable 8 h after the drug treatment. L-Cycloserine was also a potent in vitro inhibitor of brain GABA-T activity. The inhibition was competitive with respect to GABA, the Ki value being 3.1 X 10(-5) M. The prior administration of L-cycloserine to mice significantly delayed the onset of isonicotinic acid hydrazide induced convulsions.