Cerebrospinal Fluid Glucose: Turnover and Metabolism

Abstract

The turnover of CSF glucose was studied in cats during steady-state perfusion. In all experiments, the perfusion fluid contained either tracer [14C] glucose alone or tracer glucose along with 4.45 m M unlabeled glucose. In some studies, serum glucose was lowered with insulin. The concentration of glucose and [14C] glucose in the effluent fluid was measured, and the distribution of 14C between glucose and lactate was determined by chromatography. The extraction of glucose and the metabolism of glucose to lactate were calculated. The influx of glucose from serum was also determined. During steady-state perfusion, 71% of the radioactivity was recovered in the effluent fluid: 50% in the form of glucose, 6% in the form of lactate and 15% in forms that were not identified. Thus, 50% of the perfusion fluid glucose was cleared, of which 29% was extracted and 21% metabolized. The influx of glucose was proportional to the serum glucose when the latter .apprx. 2.5 m M or 10.0 m M. During perfusion with tracer glucose only, the concentration of glucose in the effuent fluid was 25% that of serum. The transport of glucose from serum was independent of the glucose concentration gradient between serum and perfusion fluid. When perfusion fluid glucose concentration was greater than that of serum, transport was inhibited. In maintaining CSF glucose at a lower concentration than serum glucose, with equal amounts of glucose entering and leaving the CSF, 50% of CSF glucose concentration cleared is replaced by 25% of serum glucose concentration.