Stimulant and convulsive effects of kynurenines injected into brain ventricles in mice.

Each of six kynurenines tested (DL-kynurenine, quinolinic, 3-hydroxy-anthranilic, xanthurenic, picolinic, and nicotinic acids) injected into brain ventricles in mice in doses of 25--60 mcg produced motor excitement and/or clonic convulsions. Anthranilic acid did not produce these effects. The strongest metabolite was quinolinic acid, which was active in a dose of 1 mcg. It was also the only compound which produced motor excitement and convulsions after intraperitoneal injection (in doses of 400--600 mg/kg, i.e. 10,000--15,000 mcg per mouse). The hypothermic effect of intraventricularly-injected kynurenines was roughly similar to that of intraperitoneally-injected material at 100--1000 times higher doses. These data suggest poor penetration of kynurenines formed in the liver into the brain, and the possible involvement of these metabolites of tryptophan (particularly if they are formed inside the brain) in the mechanism of seizures.