Excitatory action of some aspartate- and glutamate-containing dipeptides after intracerebroventricular injection in mice.

The effects of some dipeptides, analogues of N-acetyl-alpha-L-aspartyl-L-glutamate, were studied after i.c.v. administration into mice in acute experiments. N-Acetyl-alpha-L-aspartyl-L-glutamate itself did not induce seizures in animals, but prevented glutamate-induced convulsions. All other dipeptides possessed excitatory glutamate-like actions. Some structural requirements for the excitatory effects of the dipeptides are discussed.