Studies on the tissue and subcellular distribution of β-n-oxalyl-L-α, β-diaminopropionic acid, the Lathyrus sativus neurotoxin

Abstract

β-N-Oxalyl-L-α, β-diaminopropionic acid (ODAP), the Lathyrus sativus neurotoxin can be detected in significant concentrations in the synaptosomal fractions isolated from young rat brain and adult monkey spinal cord, when these animals manifest neurological symptoms after ODAP administration. However, isolated synaptosomes fail to exhibit any transport system for ODAP uptake. ODAP administered in vivo appears to get localized in a population of synaptosomes which exhibit a high affinity uptake system for glutamate.