REGIONAL NET UPTAKE OF GLUCOSE-C-14 BY RAT-BRAIN UNDER INFLUENCE OF CORTICOSTERONE

Abstract

Fifteen seconds after intracarotid injection of either 14C-glucose or 3H water in adrenalectomized rats, the net uptake of the respective tracer by 18 brain regions and by the anterior pituitary was measured. Corticosterone added to the injection solution (1 or 100 .mu.g ml-1; 0.2 ml per animal) caused a dose-dependent decrease of net uptake of 14C-glucose in 12 regions. Compared to the net uptake of 3H water which was used as a measure of relative blood flow, it suggests that this effect, at least partially, is due to a decreased blood-brain barrier permeability to 14C-glucose. The regional net uptake of 14C-glucose was estimated in rats with different endogenous corticosterone levels but injected with an identical solution in each case. Statistically significant differences could be observed between adrenalectomized and restrained animals in 3 brain regions.