Studies on γ-amino-β-hydroxybutyric acid III. Metabolism of γ-amino-β-hydroxybutyric acid in perfusion through the liver and brain

For the purpose to reveal the metabolic pathway of GABOB the analyses were performed with the GABOB containing fluid perfused through the liver and the brain of rabbits, and the following results were obtained. Qualitative observations by paperchromatography on the fluid containing GABOB after perfusing the organs proved the presence of some amino acids. These were identified as glycine, glutamic acid and glutamine. The observation on the GABOBcontaining fluid perfused the organs showed a decrease in GABOB and an increase in these amino acids. Quantitative observation proved a considerable increase in glycive and a moderate increase in glutamic acid and glutamine with a marked decrease in the amount of GABOB injected. From these results it is believed that GABOB is decomposed into glycine and acetic acid probably passing the stage of γ-aminoacetoacetic acid in one way and into glutamic acid by the transamination of GABOB with α-ketoglutaric acid in the other.