L-glutamate and L-aspartate concentrations in the developing and aging human putamen tissue.

We have previously reported that the developmental regulation of NMDA receptor expression in human brain is characterized by a sharp postnatal increase peaking at about age 1 year. We have now extended this work by measuring concentrations of L-glutamate and L-aspartate in the putamen from 45 human autopsy specimens. Both amino acids increased steeply within the first postnatal year after which they remained fairly constant throughout life. There was no impact on glutamate and aspartate levels in putamen of sex, side of the brain, postmortem time and storage time of brain tissue.