4-Aminobutyraldehyde as a Precursor Convertible to γ-Aminobutyric Acid In Vivo

Abstract

It was found that 4-aminobutyraldehyde (ABAL) is a precursor convertible to γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in vivo . [2,3- ³ H]ABAL was synthesized from [2,3- ³ H]putrescine. After the subcutaneous administration of [ ³ H]ABAL at the dose of 1 μmol/g body weight, [ ³ H]GABA was produced in the mouse brain in an amount of about 350 nmol/g brain in 10 min. After oral administration of [ ³ H]ABAL at the dose of 2 μmol/g body weight, [ ³ H]GABA was also produced in the brain in an amount of about 530 nmol/g brain in 30 min. It seems that peripherally administered ABAL penetrates the blood-brain barrier into the central nervous system and is rapidly metabolized to GABA in the brain.