GABA-transaminase, the liver and infantile autism

Medical Hypotheses
B I Cohen

Abstract

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the mammalian brain and the enzyme responsible for catabolism (breakdown in the liver during regulation) is GABA-Transaminase (GABA-T). Recently, Cohen has shown that extremely high GABA levels in the urine and blood were observed for an autistic child. The finding that elevated levels of GABA in the urine and blood are present for an autistic child could explain why autistic features (such as self-stimulatory behavior and language delays, etc.) are found. Increasing the GABA-T enzyme activity for this autistic patient could result in less plasma GABA (after liver regulation) entering into the bloodsteam and brain and it is postulated that this could result in a reduction of the autistic features (such as self-stimulatory behavior and language delays, etc.) due to abnormal development of the axon(s) in the corpus callosum.

References

Jul 1, 1982·Journal of Neurochemistry·H L WhiteR A Maxwell

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Citations

Apr 12, 2005·European Neuropsychopharmacology : the Journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Rael D StrousBaruch Spivak
Aug 6, 2002·Medical Hypotheses·Brett I Cohen
Jul 9, 2003·Annals of Medicine·Irina N Bespalova, Joseph D Buxbaum
Nov 3, 2006·European Neuropsychopharmacology : the Journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Pavel GolubchikAbraham Weizman
Nov 24, 2004·Autism : the International Journal of Research and Practice·Brett I Cohen
Mar 25, 2009·International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology·M L CastellaniM Fulcheri

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