Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate, a Normal Brain Metabolite

Abstract

THE finding that γ-aminobutyric acid undergoes an omega transamination to succinic semialdehyde in brain¹ and the subsequent description of a specific dehydrogenase for succinic semialdehyde^2,3 indicated a complete pathway parallel to the Krebs cycle in the brain, which by-passed α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase—a slow step in the cycle⁴. It was reported in the initial investigation, which demonstrated succinic semialdehyde as an intermediate, that this compound could also effect the oxidation of reduced DPN in brain homogenates, or in the presence of crystalline lactic dehydrogenase. The most likely product of this reaction would be γ-hydroxybutyric acid (1).