Increased uptake of [3H]deoxyglucose and [14C]deoxyglucose in localized regions of the brain during stimulation of the motor cortex

Abstract

A part of the motor area that evokes short-latency activity in jaw-opening muscles was stimulated for 30-45 min in guinea pigs, which had received an injection of [3H]deoxyglucose or [14C]deoxyglucose. In a number of specific regions of the upper brainstem and basal ganglia, bilateral increases of metabolic activity were demonstrated by autoradiography. These included the putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus, dorsomedial region of red nucleus, deep layers of the superior colliculus and pretectal nuclei. A ventral region of the thalamus was labeled ipsilateral to the stimulation. The regions may represent stations in the circuits involved in the production of the evoked muscular activity. Using [3H]deoxyglucose instead of [14C]deoxyglucose as a tracer improved the quality of the autoradiographic images.