Perinatal hypoxia induces a long-lasting increase in unstimulated gaba release in rat brain cortex and hippocampus. The protective effect of pyruvate

▶ Increase in cortical and hippocampal extracellular GABA is a long-term consequence of perinatal hypoxia. ▶ Pyruvate can lower and stabilize extracellular GABA. ▶ Pyruvate significantly stimulates GATs-mediated GABA uptake. ▶ Pyruvate enhances affinity of GATs to GABA.