Effects of Aluminum on Glutamate Metabolism

Definition of Al toxicity is traditionally presented in terms of neurone injury and glial cells are generally relagated to a secondary role involving reactive or suportive responses. However, the observations of the present work point out the astrocyte population as a potential target for Al toxic action. In vivo, significant increase in glutamine concentration was observed during aging and after Al exposure in brain regions characterized by Al accumulation, the hippocampus and the neocortex. In vitro, exposure of astrocytes to Al significantly increased GS activity. Some steps of glutamate metabolism appeared therefore to increase in the brain of rats after Al exposure.