Studies on some amino acids in the brain regions of three vertebrate species II Effect of cold exposure

ABSTRACT

The changes in GABA, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, alanine and glycine levels were studied in the brain regions of Arvicanthis niloticus, Columba livia and Agama stellio following exposure to cold. In general, the levels of the five amino acids under investigation tended to increase in the Arvicanthis and Columba brain parts. In the Agama brain regions variable changes were observed. It is concluded that following cold stress the difference in the changes of brain amino acid levels between the poikilothermic lizard and the homoeothermic bird and mammal may be related to the presence of mature thermal defenses in adult homeotherms