Glycolysis in brain tissue

Abstract

The glycolytic rate of sliced rabbit brain is 3-4 times higher than that of chopped rabbit brain, and the rate is reduced when bicarbonate buffer and 5% CO2 are replaced by phosphate buffer of the same pH. Glycolysis in slices in NaHCO3/CO2 buffer is partially lowered in the presence of physiologic conc. of K phosphate buffer of the same pH. Inorganic phosphate is liberated rapidly from sliced tissue in the bicarbonate buffer. This liberation is less in the presence of glucose than in its absence, but is hardly affected by conc. of fluoride which inhibit glycolysis. Brain slices are able to produce lactic acid from pyruvate + [alpha]-glycerophosphate only to a small extent. Inhibition of glycolysis in brain tissue by small conc. of of dl-glyceraldehyde is confirmed. The bearing of these and other results on the 2-mechanism theory of glycolysis in brain is discussed.