Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Detection of Increased Cortical GABA in Vigabatrin‐Treated Rats In Vivo

Abstract

Summary: 1H Nuclear magnetic resonance ([1H]NMR) spectroscopy was used to detect elevation of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) in rat brain after administration of the antiepileptic drug vigabatrin (VGB). Rats were treated for 3 weeks with VGB added to their drinking water to deliver a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight per day. NMR spectroscopy was performed noninvasively in vivo, and a GABA concentration of 6.0 ± 2.3 mmol/kg wet weight (mean ± SD, n = 5) was measured. GABA could not be detected in control animals in vivo. Postmortem GABA levels of 1.3 ± 0.5 and 4.5 ±l 1.0 mmol/kg (mean ± SD, n = 5) were measured in perchloric acid extracts of frozen brain from control and treated animals, respectivel..