Quantitative autoradiographic measurement of local cerebral glucose utilization in freely moving rats during postnatal development

Abstract

The quantitative 2–14C-deoxyglucose autoradiographic method of Sokoloff et al. (1977) was used to measure local cerebral glucose utilization in freely moving developing rats. The animals were studied at 10, 14, 17, 21, and 35 d and at the adult stage. Glucose utilization was very low and quite uniform in 10- and 14-d-old rats, ranging from 20 to 30 mumol/100 gm/min, except in a few posterior areas. Between these 2 stages, rates of glucose utilization significantly increased in 6 areas, among which 4 were belonging to the auditory system. Between 14 and 17 d, glucose utilization significantly changed in 9 structures out of the 68 studied, mainly auditory, visual, parietal, and thalamic areas. Between the stages of 17 and 21 d, glucose utilization was increased by 50 or 100% in all brain structures studied, except in the medial habenula and white matter areas. After weaning time, rates of glucose utilization still significantly changed in 50 areas, widely distributed through all studied systems. Between 35 d and the adult stage, the average rate of glucose utilization did not change and rates of energy metabolism significantly increased in 13 brain areas. In one structure, the medial habenula, glucose utilization was already high 10 d after birth and did not change over the whole studied period. These increases in the rates of glucose utilization are consistent with the behavioral, anatomical, and functional changes known to occur during this period of development in the rat.

The Effects of Age and Ketogenic Diet on Local Cerebral Metabolic Rates of Glucose After Controlled Cortical Impact Injury in Rats

“…There was no significant difference in the CMRglc of the cortex, thalamus, or hippocampus between PND35 and PND70 rats, which is consistent with previously published developmental profile of glucose metabolism across these age groups (Nehlig et al, 1988).…”

“…The average cortical rates of glucose metabolism obtained from PND35 and PND70 sham animals were within the previously reported ranges (Yoshino et al, 1991;Thomas et al, 2000;Nehlig et al, 1988). There was no significant difference in the CMRglc of the cortex, thalamus, or hippocampus between PND35 and PND70 rats, which is consistent with previously published developmental profile of glucose metabolism across these age groups (Nehlig et al, 1988).…”

Metabolic Maturation of the Brain: A Study of Local Cerebral Glucose Utilization in the Developing Cat

“…Previous studies in monkeys (Kennedy et al, 1982), humans (Chugani and Phelps, 1986;Chugani et al, 1987), and rats (Nehlig et al, 1988) have found a relationship between a developmental in crease of lCMRglc in a particular brain structure and the emergence of behavior mediated by that struc ture. In the present studies, we also find a general relationship between metabolic and behavioral de velopment in the kitten, as discussed below.…”

“…The concern arises be cause of the ability of many species to utilize alter nate substrates (e.g., ketone bodies, lactate, and amino acids) as an energy source by the brain dur ing development (Jones, 1979;Cremer, 1982). In the developing rat, ketone bodies contribute signifi cantly to energy expenditure by the brain, and therefore lCMRglc measurements cannot readily be used to estimate total cerebral energy demand dur ing development (Nehlig et al, 1988). It is probably for this reason that a transient developmental stage of increased ICMRglc over adult values was not de tected in the developing rat in the study by Nehlig et al (1988).…”

“…In the developing rat, ketone bodies contribute signifi cantly to energy expenditure by the brain, and therefore lCMRglc measurements cannot readily be used to estimate total cerebral energy demand dur ing development (Nehlig et al, 1988). It is probably for this reason that a transient developmental stage of increased ICMRglc over adult values was not de tected in the developing rat in the study by Nehlig et al (1988). More recent studies by Nehlig et al (1989) suggest that measurements of local cerebral blood flow (lCBF) are a better indicator of total ce rebral energy demand in the immature rat than lCMRglc measurements.…”