Neutral amino acid uptake by the isolated perfused sheep choroid plexus.

Abstract

1. The uptake of neutral amino acids from the blood into the cells of the choroid plexus was studied by means of the rapid (less than 40 s) single-circulation paired-tracer dilution technique in the isolated perfused choroid plexus of the sheep. 2. The study provides the first direct evidence for the carrier-mediated entry of neutral amino acids from blood into the cells of the choroid plexus. 3. In the terms of Christensen's classification the presence of L-amino acid carrier systems for large neutral amino acids with bulky side chains has been demonstrated. 4. No measurable uptake of [14C]methyl amino isobutyric acid ([14C]MeAIB) during a single passage through the choroid plexus circulation was demonstrated which indicates the probable absence of a significant 'A' transport system. 5. The uptake of small neutral amino acids such as glycine and L-alanine was shown to be carrier-mediated. Results suggest that these amino acids are mainly transported by the glycine and ASC carrier systems, respectively. 6. The results suggest that there is a similarity between the transport systems for neutral amino acids on the blood side of both the blood-brain barrier and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, the exception being for the presence of a glycine carrier on the blood side of the choroid plexus.