N&PD Moderators: Skorpio | thegreenhand
raybeez said:If only we could be so lucky. Unfortunately, the conversion of GABA -> GHB occurs only in brain tissue, as the enzyme which catalyzes the reaction (Succinic semialdehyde reductase) has been found only in the brain.
Even if you could get GABA to cross the BBB, it's normal catabolism actually does NOT favour the production of GHB.
For anyone out there who is interested, the normal metabolism of GABA in the brain is:
GABA --(1)--> Succinic semialdehyde (SSA) --(2)--> Succinic Acid (SA)
Step 1 is catalyzed by GABA transaminase, and is an irreversible reaction
Step 2 is catalyzed by Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, and is an irreversible reaction.
GHB is produced in brain tissue by the following:
SSA <---(3)---> GHB
Step 3 is catalyzed by Succinic semialdehyde reductase, and is a reversible reaction
Step 2 is irreversible and fast, therefore SSA is formed only transiently. As a result, there is very little SSA that actually gets converted into GHB. So even if you put more GABA into your brain, it would still all just get pushed into SSA, and then SA.
The exception to this would be if you had a defect in Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, which would result in an accumulation of SSA, which would get pushed into GHB. There actually is a genetic disease that results in this happening, leading to high levels of GHB in the brain blood.
Although this 'disease' does sound fun, children born with it suffer brain damage as a result of chronic GHB intoxication while their brains are forming, leading to mental retardation, seizures, and a bunch of other nasty things.
narutokun said:I've taken tons of gaba as a benzo potentiator even though everyone says it doesn't cross the bbb, i don't think it is placebo effect it really does help my benzos! am i missing something here? can anyone provide further info?
Broshious said:Could one take a Succinic Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase inhibitor to then make GABA metabolize into GHB?