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BY-NC-ND 3.0 license Open Access Published by De Gruyter June 2, 2014

Effects of ʟ-Phenylalanine on Acetylcholinesterase, (Na+,K+)-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase Activities in Adult Rat Whole Brain and Frontal Cortex

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Abstract

The effect of different L-phenylalanine (Phe) concentrations (0.12-12.1 mм) on acetylcho­ linesterase (AChE), (Na+,K+)-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activities was investigated in homogenates of adult rat whole brain and frontal cortex at 37 °C. AChE, (Na+,K+)-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activities were determined after preincubation with Phe. AChE activity in both tissues showed a decrease up to 18% (p<0.01) with Phe. Whole brain Na+,K+-ATPase was stimulated by 30-35% (p<0.01) with high Phe concentrations, while frontal cortex Na+,K+-ATPase was stimulated by 50-55% (p<0.00l). Mg2+-ATPase activity was increased only in frontal cortex with high Phe concentrations. It is suggested that: a) The inhibitory effect of Phe on brain AChE is not influenced by developmental factors, while the stimulation of Phe on brain Na+,K+-ATPase is indeed affected; b) The stimulatory effect of Phe on rat whole brain Na+,K+-ATPase is decreased with age; c) Na+,K+-ATPase is selectively more stimulated by high Phe concentrations in frontal cortex than in whole brain homogenate; d) High (toxic) Phe concentrations can affect Mg2+-ATPase activity in frontal cortex, but not in whole brain, thus modulating the amount of intracellular Mg2+.

Received: 2000-9-4
Revised: 2000-10-4
Published Online: 2014-6-2
Published in Print: 2001-2-1

© 1946 – 2014: Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

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