Diabetes, Vol 39, Issue 4 437-440, Copyright © 1990 by American Diabetes Association
Regional brain glucose metabolism and blood flow in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats
J Jakobsen, M Nedergaard, M Aarslew-Jensen and NH Diemer
Institute of Neuropathology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Brain regional glucose metabolism and regional blood flow were measured
from autoradiographs by the uptake of [3H]-2-deoxy-D-glucose and
[14C]iodoantipyrine in streptozocin-induced diabetic (STZ-D) rats. After 2
days of diabetes, glucose metabolism in the neocortex, basal ganglia, and
white matter increased by 34, 37, and 8%, respectively, whereas blood flow
was unchanged. After 4 mo, glucose metabolism in the same three regions was
decreased by 32, 43, and 60%. This reduction was paralleled by a
statistically nonsignificant reduction in blood flow in neocortex and basal
ganglia. It is suggested that the decrease of brain glucose metabolism in
STZ-D reflects increased ketone body oxidation and reduction of
electrochemical work.