Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 206, Issue 1, 9 February 1981, Pages 178-182
Brain Research

The neurolathyrogen, β-N-oxalyl-L-α,β-diaminopropionic acid, is a potent agonist at ‘glutamate preferring’ receptors in the frog spinal cord

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(81)90112-8Get rights and content

Abstract

A neurotoxic amino acid, β-N-oxalyl-l-α, β-diaminopropionate (β-ODP), found in seeds of Lathyrus sativus and a possible causative agent of neurolathyrism, was equipotent with kainate as a depolarizing agent on frog spinal cord ventral roots. β-ODAP and kainate appeared to act on a common receptor, as their actions could not be differentiated pharmacologically. These results could explain some of the symptoms of neurolathyrism.

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