Age-Associated Changes in Deoxyglucose Uptake in Whole Brain

Abstract

Cerebral blood flow, studied by means of a diffusible indicator, remains unchanged in the aging process (developmental changes). On the contrary, brain activity, evaluated by deoxyglucose uptake, is significantly reduced. Papaverine, which increases cerebral blood flow, and vincamine, slightly but significantly, act on this parameter in the older animals.

Effect of Cold Shock on Age-Related Changes in the Glucose Uptake of Brain Slices of Male Garden Lizard

“…Decline in glucose utilization [Patel, 1977] and in deoxyglucose uptake [Le Poncin-Lafitte and Rapin, 1980] was also observed in the ageing rat brain. Taken to gether, it is believed that with advancing age the activity of both energy-generating path ways (oxidative and glycolytic) declines in nervous tissue [Frolkis and Bezrukov, 1979;Iwangoff et al, 1979], Results of the present study indicate that the glucose uptake of brain slices decreased during maturation followed by an increase in old lizards (table 1).…”

Simultaneous Study of Cerebral Blood Flow, Vascular Bed and Deoxyglucose in Aged Rats

“…We have previously demonstrated a change in the relative values of blood flow and deoxyglucose uptake dur ing aging [21]; furthermore, a reduction in glucose consumption was observed without any concomitant variation of CBF. Two as sociated mechanisms may be at the origin of this reduction in deoxyglucose uptake: a re duction in the exchange surface between blood and cerebral tissue, together with a reduction in neuronal activity (perhaps linked to a reduction in the number of neu rons) [11], In effect, the reduction in motor and behavior activity observed during ani mal aging may be related to the observed fall in cerebral consumption of glucose.…”

“…Thus we proposed a simultaneous analysis of these three parameters in the mouse [20], The interval which was then chosen between the time of administration of deoxyglucose and its estimation in the tissue corresponds to the index of cerebral uptake defined by Rapin et al [21]. The study of the kinetics of cerebral uptake of deoxyglucose and of its rate of elimination from the blood shows that the state of equilibrium is obtained 3 min after injection.…”

“…Dihydrogenated ergot alka loids, such as dihydroergotoxin (DHET) and dihydroergocryptine (DHEC), are of recog nized efficacy in the treatment of mental de terioration in the elderly [11,21,28].…”

The Experimental Basis of Therapeutics in Ageing

“…(3) A decrease in cell metabolism is gener ally observed [Le Poncin Lafitte and Rapin, 1980], Although the physiological role of most proteins specific of the nervous system is not known, it has been suggested that brain-specific proteins are involved in the learning process. Protein synthesis is also im plicated in the modification of content of amines and content or activity of enzymes regulating the turnover of neurotransmitters.…”