Regional enzyme development in rat brain. Enzymes associated with glucose utilization

Acute stimulation of glucose metabolism in mice by leptin treatment

Leptin is an adipocyte hormone that functions as an afferent signal in a negative feedback loop regulating body weight, and acts by interacting with a receptor in the hypothalamus and other tissues. Leptin treatment has potent effects on lipid metabolism, and leads to a large, specific reduction of adipose tissue mass after several days. Here we show that leptin also acts acutely to increase glucose metabolism, although studies of leptin's effect on glucose metabolism have typically been confounded by the weight-reducing actions of leptin treatment, which by itself could affect glucose homoeostasis. We have demonstrated acute in vivo effects of intravenous and intracerebroventricular administrations of leptin on glucose metabolism. A five-hour intravenous infusion of leptin into wild-type mice increased glucose turnover and glucose uptake, but decreased hepatic glycogen content. The plasma levels of insulin and glucose did not change. Similar effects were observed after both intravenous and intracerebroventricular infusion of leptin, suggesting that effects of leptin on glucose metabolism are mediated by the central nervous system (CNS). These data indicate that leptin induces a complex metabolic response with effects on glucose as well as lipid metabolism. This response is unique to leptin, which suggests that new efferent signals emanate from the CNS after leptin treatment.

Identification and characterization of novel developmentally regulated proteins in rat spinal cord

We previously used 2-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis to identify novel proteins that may be involved in the genesis of the mammalian nervous system [1]. Several novel proteins that were up- or down-regulated coincident with neurogenesis and neuronal migration in rat neocortex were identified. To further investigate the expression of some of these developmentally regulated proteins during a comparable period in spinal cord development, 2-D electrophoresis is used to study their regulation in the crude membrane and soluble fractions of spinal cord at embryonic day 12 (E12) and embryonic day 21 (E21). This analysis indicates that 7 of the proteins that exhibited large changes in their synthesis in cerebral cortex between embryonic day 14 (E14) and embryonic day 21 (E21) demonstrate similar up- or down-regulation during spinal cord neurogenesis. However, two proteins are restricted in their expression or developmental regulation. One of these, 667-800, appears cortex-specific, while the up-regulation of protein SC.1 appears to be spinal cord specific. Several of these proteins also appear to be enriched in both the cortex and spinal cord relative to non-neural tissues (117, 162, 182, 310 [TOAD-64], 667-800) and may be neural specific. To further characterize its expression, one of these neural-specific, up-regulated proteins, TOAD-64 (protein 310) [2-4], is studied throughout embryonic and postnatal spinal cord development using peptide-specific polyclonal antibodies. As suggested by the 2-D gel analysis and the previously reported expression pattern in cerebral cortex [3], TOAD-64 is transiently expressed in postmitotic spinal cord neurons early in their development and sharply down-regulated after the second postnatal week. In the adult spinal cord, TOAD-64 expression is remarkably restricted to a subset of primary afferents to the spinal cord. This expression pattern, coupled with its recently discovered homology to two proteins implicated in axon pathfinding in the chick and nematode [5,3], suggests that TOAD-64 may have a fundamental role in axon pathfinding.

Age-related changes in cerebral oxidative metabolism. Implications for drug therapy

Glucose metabolism in the brain is of central significance. It contributes to the synthesis of the neurotransmitters acetylcholine, glutamate, aspartate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine, and yields adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as the driving force of almost all cellular and molecular work. Neuronal glucose metabolism is controlled antagonistically by insulin and cortisol via amplification and desensitisation of the insulin signal from the insulin receptor. Normal aging of mammalian brains is associated with numerous inherent metabolic changes. The metabolic changes that are of pivotal importance include probable primary inherent variations in the neuronal insulin receptor, the desensitisation of the neuronal insulin receptor by circulating cortisol and receptor dysfunction subsequent to changes in membrane structure and function. As a consequence, slight aberrations in glucose/energy metabolism become obvious under resting conditions, indicating incipient variations of neuronal homeostasis as a common path in the aging process. Subsequent to the changes in glucose metabolism and energy production, variations occur in acetylcholine synthesis and release, extracellular concentration and receptor binding of glutamate and cytosolic Ca++ homeostasis. Additionally, free radical formation and membrane structure changes must be considered as primary changes during aging. Stressful events occurring more frequently during aging aggravate and prolong these changes that are accompanied by membrane liability.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hexose diphosphates and phosphofructokinase in rat brain during development

Fructose 2,6-diphosphate and glucose 1,6-diphosphate concentrations were determined during late gestation and over the course of suckling in rat brain cortex and cerebellum. Cortex fructose 2,6-diphosphate concentration was greatest in neonatal animals and gradually declined thereafter by 25% to reach the adult level at 15 days of age. In contrast, the glucose 1,6-diphosphate concentration increased 4-fold over the same period to reach its highest level by postnatal day 15. Neither cerebellar fructose 2,6-diphosphate nor glucose 1,6-diphosphate concentrations varied significantly. Six day cortex 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase was less sensitive to inhibition by citrate than the enzyme obtained from 15 day pups, and fructose 2,6-diphosphate was better than glucose 1,6-diphosphate at relieving the inhibition imposed by citrate at either age. It is suggested that the rise in cerebral glucose use which occurs during suckling cannot be attributed to either changes in the concentrations of fructose 2,6-diphosphate or glucose 1,6-diphosphate, or the age-related differential sensitivity of 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase toward these effectors.

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex: cloning of the rat somatic E1 alpha subunit and its coordinate expression with the mRNAs for the E1 beta, E2, and E3 catalytic subunits in developing rat brain

We report the isolation of cDNA clones encoding the somatic form of the E1 alpha subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of rat. The deduced amino acid sequence has 99.5, 98, and 97% identity, respectively, with the orthologous proteins of mouse, human, and pig and 98.5% identity with a rat E1 alpha sequence reported previously. The cDNAs isolated in this and earlier studies predict different E1 alpha subunit mRNA sizes and amino acid sequences. These differences have been investigated by PCR, northern blot hybridization, and RNase protection. We have used our E1 alpha cDNA, in conjunction with cDNA probes to the E1 beta, E2, and E3 catalytic subunits of rat pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and also to rat citrate synthase, to perform RNase protection assays of developing rat whole brain RNA. The results show a 2.5-fold increase in the concentration of each of the subunit mRNAs and a 1.2-fold increase in citrate synthase mRNA from late foetal stage to 5 days post partum. Thereafter, the mRNA levels remained constant. These data indicate that the respective six- and threefold increases in the amounts of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and citrate synthase found to occur in rat brain between birth and adulthood are mediated principally by translational and/or posttranslational mechanisms.

Regulation of cerebral glucose metabolism in normal and polycythemic newborn lambs

In contrast to previous investigations, a recent study of polycythemic lambs suggested that cerebral glucose delivery (concentration x blood flow), not arterial glucose concentration, determined cerebral glucose uptake. In the present study, the independent effects of arterial glucose concentration and delivery on cerebral glucose uptake were examined in two groups of chronically catheterized newborn lambs (control and polycythemic). Arterial glucose concentration was varied by an infusion of insulin. CBF was reduced in one group of lambs (polycythemic) by increasing the hematocrit. At all arterial glucose concentrations, the cerebral glucose delivery of the polycythemic group was 59.6% of the control group. At arterial glucose concentrations of greater than 1.6 mmol/L, cerebral glucose uptake was constant and similar in both groups. At arterial glucose concentrations of less than or equal to 1.6 mmol/L, cerebral glucose uptake was unchanged in the control group, but was significantly decreased in the polycythemic group. In contrast, the cerebral glucose uptake was similar in both groups over a broad range of cerebral glucose delivery values. At cerebral glucose delivery values less than or equal to 83 mumols/min/100 g, there was a significant decrease in cerebral glucose uptake in both groups. During periods of low cerebral glucose delivery and uptake, cerebral oxygen uptake fell in the control group but remained unchanged in the polycythemic group. Maintenance of cerebral oxygen uptake in the polycythemic group was associated with an increased extraction and uptake of lactate and beta-hydroxybutyrate. We conclude that cerebral glucose delivery, not arterial glucose concentration alone, determines cerebral glucose uptake.

Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in developing rat brain

Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P2) levels and 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase activities have been studied in rat brain during development from embryonal to adult state. Fru-2,6-P2 increases slightly from day 16 of gestation, reaching a maximum 24 h after birth, remaining quite constant during postnatal development. In contrast with 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase, which increases progressively after the first week of age, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase remains unaltered throughout the period studied. The role of Fru-2,6-P2 in controlling cerebral glycolysis is discussed.

Quantitative histochemical changes in enzymes involved in energy metabolism in the rat brain during postnatal development. II. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase

The postnatal maturation of glucose-6-phosphate and beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity was assessed by histochemistry in rats at eight postnatal stages, P0, P5, P10, P14, P17, P21, P35 and the adult stage. Enzyme activities were revealed on cryostat brain sections with nitroblue tetrazolium. Both enzyme activities were low and homogeneous at birth, and increased to reach a peak in all areas studied, at P17 for beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and at P21 for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Then, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity decreased regularly by 20-49% from P21 to adult stage, except in cerebellar white matter where activity did not change after P21. beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity decreased regularly from P17 to adult stage in globus pallidus, hippocampus, thalamus, brainstem, genu of corpus callosum and cerebellar white matter. It sensorimotor cortex, medial geniculate body, caudate nucleus, hypothalamus and inferior colliculus, beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity stayed stable between P17 and P35 and decreased thereafter to adult levels. Finally, in parietal, auditory and cerebellar cortices, beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity either stayed stable or slightly increased after P17. The present study shows that there is a quite good correlation between postnatal changes in cerebral glucose-6-phosphate and beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activities and the importance of pentose phosphate pathway and ketone body utilization in the developing brain. Our results also reflect the regional heterogeneity of beta-hydroxybutyrate utilization in the adult rat brain, translating into a remaining high activity of beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase in cerebral cortex.

Acute hypoxia induces specific changes in local cerebral glucose utilization at different postnatal ages in the rat

The quantitative autoradiographic 2-[14C]-deoxyglucose technique (2-DG) was applied to measure the effects of an acute hypoxic exposure on local cerebral metabolic rates for glucose (LCMRglcs) in the 10 (P10)-, 14 (P14)-, and 21 (P21)-day-old rat. The animals were exposed to hypoxic (7% O2/93% N2) or control gas mixture (21% O2/79% N2) for 20 min before the initiation and for the duration of the 2-DG procedure. Lumped constants were not affected by hypoxia at any age. At P10, the exposure to the hypoxic gas mixture induced a generalized increase in LCMRglc which affected 41 structures of the 45 studied. At P14, average cerebral glucose utilization was similar in hypoxic and control rats. LCMRglc increased in 5 areas and decreased in 11 regions, mainly brainstem and respiratory areas in hypoxic rats. Finally, at P21, LCMRglc decreased in 11 structures of hypoxic rats. The increase in LCMRglc in the hypoxic 10-day-old rat likely reflects stimulation of anaerobic glycolysis. Conversely, at P14 and P21, when the brain has become more dependent upon oxygen supply for its energy metabolism, levels of LCMRglc are similar in both groups of animals or decreased in a few structures of hypoxic compared to normoxic rats. The results of the present study show that the immature brain responds to an acute hypoxic insult in a specific way according to its maturational state. They are also in good accordance with the higher resistance of the immature animal to oxygen deprivation.

Developmental expression of hexokinase 1 in the rat

Hexokinase 1 (HK1) activity varies in a developmental stage- and tissue-specific manner and is a key step in glucose homeostasis and energy metabolism. We conducted studies to determine if HK1 expression is regulated at the transcriptional level. Expression of HK1 was examined in selected pre- and postnatal rat tissues using Northern blot analyses and RNAase protection assays. We found that brain and kidney exhibited significantly higher expression than heart, lung, spleen and skeletal muscle. Brain HK1 expression was constant prenatally, peaked at 7 days of age and reached a constant level after weaning. In kidney, HK1 expression was essentially constant or perhaps gradually decreased after weaning. HK1 transcription in heart, skeletal muscle and liver was higher during fetal stages than postnatally. Lung expression was essentially constant except in the adult. HK1 mRNA levels were compared to phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) mRNA. PGK steady state mRNA levels were relatively constant in all tissues and developmental stages, except in skeletal muscle where there was a postnatal rise. The developmental profiles of HK1 and PGK mRNA expression are not consistent with enzyme activity measurements in all the tissues examined. We conclude that regulation of HK1 expression involves both transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms that are tissue and stage specific.

Diabetes induced by streptozotocin causes reduced Na-K ATPase in the brain

Na-K ATPase activity in the brain decreased significantly after diabetes was induced with streptozotocin in rats. Largest decreases were observed in the hippocampus (-30%) and the cerebral cortex (-26%). Smaller decreases were observed in the thalamus (-13%), hypothalamus (-11%) and brain stem (-10%). Na-K ATPase activity in the striatum and the cerebellum were not significantly decreased. The varied decreases suggest that the regional variation of the enzyme is enhanced in the diabetic state. The enzymes of glucose metabolic pathway, namely hexokinase, lactate dehydrogenase and citrate synthase in the brain regions largely remained unchanged although increases in lactate dehydrogenase were observed in some regions. Acetylcholinesterase activity, a marker for the cholinergic system, remains unaltered in the brain during diabetes. The results are discussed with respect to the possible metabolic factors which alter the Na-K ATPase in the brain and its comparison with the peripheral nerve.

The expression of proteins and activities of metabolic enzymes in transplanted brain tissue

The middle three-fifths of the forebrains of 14-day-old embryos were obtained and transplanted into the cortical cavities of adult rats made 7 days prior to the transplantation. The expression of proteins, as revealed by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis studies, and the activities of energy metabolizing enzymes in the mature allografts were compared with those in the 14-day-old embryonic forebrains and corresponding areas in the contralateral cerebral hemispheres of the hosts. They were shown to approach adult pattern and adult values after 10-12 weeks of growth. The biochemical findings were discussed and correlated with some of the anatomical observations.

Porin interaction with hexokinase and glycerol kinase: metabolic microcompartmentation at the outer mitochondrial membrane

Porin is the pore-forming protein involved in the movement of adenine nucleotides across the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM). Hexokinase and glycerol kinase interact with porin on the outer surface of the OMM in a manner which provides these enzymes with preferred access to the ATP generated in the mitochondrion. We review recent evidence which permits refinement of our knowledge of these proteins and their interactions at the OMM. The involvement of this system in metabolic microcompartmentation is discussed, as well as possible pathological consequences of its disruption in malignancy and genetic deficiencies of hexokinase, glycerol kinase, and porin.

Fluorocarbon perfusion of the isolated rat brain: measurement of tissue spaces, EEG and oxygen uptake

Previously, we have used the isolated perfused rat brain (IPRB) to demonstrate authentic cerebral synthesis of the lipid mediator platelet-activating-factor (Kumar, R., Harvey, S.A.K., Kester, M., Hanahan, D.J. and Olson, M.S. (1988) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 963, 375-383). The present study demonstrates that this fluorocarbon perfusion technique maintains the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), as evidenced by the small volume (1.77-3.33%) accessible to [carboxyl-14C]inulin. 51-66% of the brain was accessible to 3H2O, except for the spinal cord which is poorly perfused (16% accessible to 3H2O). There is no effective perfusion of muscle tissue associated with the preparation (less than 6% accessible to 3H2O). Fast Fourier Transform analysis of digitized EEG data showed that in low frequency bands (less than 7.5 Hz) the IPRB had reduced electrical activity relative to the whole conscious animal. The GABA antagonist bicuculline, which has convulsant effects in vivo, causes a 3-4-fold increase in overall (root-mean-square) electrical activity, but decreases further the relative amplitude of low frequencies. With appropriate corrections, measurement of the oxygen consumption of the IPRB can be made without the necessity for venous cannulation. Oxygen consumption of the IPRB is flow-dependent. At a perfusion rate of 1.54 ml/min per g, unstimulated oxygen consumption of the IPRB is 2.07-2.23 mumol/min per g, or 67-72% of the consumption of the brain in vivo. Administration of bicuculline to the IPRB causes a 31% increase in lactate efflux, but only a 15% increase in oxygen uptake, suggesting that the preparation becomes functionally ischemic. Measurement of ATP/ADP levels in control and bicuculline-treated IPRBs confirms this. Other workers have used the IPRB as a model for the cerebral effects of pharmacological agents and of metabolic insult. The present study shows that under various experimental conditions oxygen uptake, analytical EEG measurements, and the integrity of the blood-brain barrier all can be monitored.

Quantitative histochemical changes in enzymes involved in energy metabolism in the rat brain during postnatal development. I. Cytochrome oxidase and lactate dehydrogenase

The postnatal maturation of cytochrome oxidase and lactate dehydrogenase activity was assessed by histochemistry in rats at 8 postnatal stages, P0, P5, P10, P14, P17, P21, P35 and the adult stage. Enzyme activities were revealed on cryostat brain sections with diaminobenzidine for cytochrome oxidase and nitroblue tetrazolium for lactate dehydrogenase. Lactate dehydrogenase activity remained unchanged between P0 and P10, significantly increased in 8 areas of the 14 studied between P10 and P14 and in 6 structures from P14 to P17. These were mainly parietal, auditory and cerebellar cortices, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus and medial geniculate body. There was no further change until P35 and lactate dehydrogenase activity increased then significantly to reach higher adult levels in hippocampus and medial geniculate body. Cytochrome oxidase activity was low from P0 to P10 and increased in 8 regions between P10 and P14. These were all cortices, caudate nucleus, hippocampus, inferior colliculus and genu. Enzyme activity further increased between P14 and P17 in auditory cortex, medial geniculate body and brainstem, did not vary from P17 to P21 but increased by 92 to 371% in all areas between P21 and P35. Cytochrome oxidase activity rose further from P35 to adult stage in hippocampus and medial geniculate body. From birth to adulthood, cytochrome oxidase activity increased 5 to 19 fold and lactate dehydrogenase activity 1.8 to 3.0. The present study shows that there is a quite good correlation between postnatal changes in regional cerebral glucose utilization and activity of enzymes involved in glycolytic and oxidative glucose metabolism in the rat.

Autoradiographic measurement of local cerebral beta-hydroxybutyrate uptake in the rat during postnatal development

An autoradiographic method has been developed for the regional assessment of cerebral tracer levels after the acute intravenous injection of [3-14C]beta-hydroxybutyrate in developing rats. The animals were studied at five postnatal stages, i.e. postnatal day 10 (P10), P14, P17, P21 and P35. Tracer levels were high from P10 to P17, reaching peak values at P14, which were two- to threefold higher than those at P10. At P17, tracer concentrations were about twice as low as at P14. Between P17 and P21, regional 14C concentrations were again reduced by about twofold in all areas studied and decreased further by about 50% after weaning reaching quite low levels by P35. The distribution of 14C inside sections appeared to be rather homogeneous throughout the brain at all stages studied, never exceeding a ratio higher than 2 at any stage studied. These results are in good agreement with previous data on the rate of uptake and utilization of beta-hydroxybutyrate by the immature rat brain.

Influence of early chronic phenobarbital treatment on cerebral arteriovenous differences of glucose and ketone bodies in the developing rat

The influence of an early chronic phenobarbital treatment on cerebral arteriovenous differences of glucose, lactate, pyruvate, beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate was studied in suckling rats. The animals were treated from day 2 to 21 after birth by a daily injection of 50 mg/kg phenobarbital or by saline and were studied at 10, 14 and 21 days. Phenobarbital treatment induced a decrease in cerebral arteriovenous difference of glucose at P14 and no change at P10 and P21. The barbiturate did not have any influence on cerebral arteriovenous difference of lactate and pyruvate at the three stages studied. Cerebral uptake of beta-hydroxybutyrate was unchanged at P10 and increased by two-fold at P14 and by threefold at P21 by phenobarbital. Cerebral arteriovenous difference of acetoacetate was low and did not change with the pharmacological treatment. At P14 and P21, the calculated amount of oxygen used by the brain for the oxidation of ketone bodies was twice as high in barbiturate- as in saline-treated rats and reached values of 47 and 16% respectively in phenobarbital-exposed animals. In addition, the barbiturate seemed to affect the carrier process of beta-hydroxybutyrate from blood to brain. The results of the present study are in good agreement with previous data from our laboratory showing that an early chronic phenobarbital treatment is able to induce a shift in the cerebral energy metabolism balance in favor of ketone bodies.

Effects of kainate on glucose metabolising enzymes in the brain

Hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities were studied in brain regions after intraventricular injection of kainic acid. Hexokinase activity was decreased by 10-15% in various regions while glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity remained unaltered. Soluble hexokinase activity, which remained the smaller fraction of total hexokinase activity, showed slightly more dramatic decreases of 15-35% compared to normal activities in brain regions. This decrease of hexokinase activity in the cytosolic compartment could partly account for the kainate-induced decreases seen in glucose metabolism.

Glucose homeostasis and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis during development in rats

Glucoprivation represents a model stress in which activation of different stress responses at different ages can be monitored both in vivo and in vitro. Physiological data indicate rat brain contains a liver/pancreas-type glucose sensor, yet no biochemical or immunocytochemical evidence exists for such a sensor. Young rats appear to lack normal hypothalamic glucose-sensing ability and do not show typical secretory patterns of corticotropin-releasing factor, adrenocorticotropic hormone, or corticosterone after experimentally induced glucoprivation. However, they hypersecrete catecholamines and glucagon (compared with adults) and thrive on fuel sources other than glucose that are abundant after birth. High steroid levels during the first 24 h after birth may be critical for inducing gluconeogenic enzymes and promoting differentiation of tissues like pancreas. Neonatal rats also have unique control systems to combat the damaging effects of other stresses like hypoxia; these systems may disappear in adults. Thus the definition of stress may change during development, and the compensatory mechanisms employed to combat stress change from neonatal to adult life and are intricately related to the metabolic needs of the animal.

Brain glucose and energy metabolism during normal aging

The mature, healthy, non-starved mammalian brain uses glucose only as a source of energy in the form of ATP, which is necessary for several metabolic processes, such as the maintenance of cellular homeostasis via ion homeostasis, maintenance of the integrity of cellular compartments, and intracellular transportation processes for the formation of several neurotransmitters, neurotransmission itself and a few anabolic reactions. Glucose breakdown contributes to the formation of the neurotransmitters: acetylcholine, glutamate, aspartate, gamma-aminobutyrate, and glycine. Normal cerebral aging is associated with an incipient perturbation in both cerebral glucose and related metabolism, that determines an energy deficit and thus an imbalance in cell homeostasis after the 7th or 8th decade of human life, indicating a threshold phenomenon. This is evidenced by morphological/morphobiological abnormalities comprising neuronal loss and structural changes. These events are thought to cause a marked reduction in the biological plasticity of the brain, which may be severely involved after additional stress situations such as ischemia, hypoxia or hypoglycemia. The age-related increasing perturbation of neuronal homeostasis may represent a stress situation capable of inducing heat shock proteins effecting gene activity. Thus, several age-related metabolic abnormalities at the cellular level, starting with a deficient neuronal glucose and energy metabolism, can be regarded as risk factors for neuronal damage and death, and hence reduced mental capacity.

Postnatal changes of cathepsin D activity in rat liver and brain

Total and specific activity of cathepsin D (EC. 3.4.23.5) were measured in rat liver and brain from 1 to 98 days of age. The activity of cathepsin D in the liver of adult and newborn rats was the same while in the rat brain it was higher in adult than in newborn rats. In the liver maximum specific activity of cathepsin D occurred on the 10th postnatal day and minimum on the fourth day of age. In the brain maximum specific activity of the enzyme occurred on the 14th postnatal day. Total activity of cathepsin D increased after birth in rat liver and brain. These results are discussed in relation to the functional role of cathepsin D in the rat liver and the brain.

The regional variability of enzymes in the brain: relevance to CSF enzyme determinations

The assay of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) enzymes has been suggested for assessing the extent of damage and patient prognosis in cases of brain injury. A potential difficulty associated with using CSF enzyme levels as predictors of outcome is the possibility that enzyme concentrations may vary substantially from one brain region to another. We have determined the concentrations of seven enzymes in seven brain regions in the rat and cat. Acid phosphatase (ACP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), lactate dehydrogenase (LD), and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) show little regional variability in the rat and cat while creatine kinase (CK) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) both exhibit considerable regional variability in both animals. Lack of correlation between CSF enzyme levels and prognosis may possibly be explained by the observed regional variability. The enzymes demonstrating more homogeneous concentrations throughout the brain may be better candidates for predicting patient outcome by determination of the CSF enzyme level.

The diffuse neuroendocrine system: a molecular perspective

This review seeks to illustrate that the concept of a 'diffuse neuroendocrine system' arises from a series of ontogenetic, phylogenetic and functional overlaps borne out at the molecular level, which engender an apparent global unit. Extrapolation from the overlaps should lead to the discovery of new facets in the relationships between molecular components of the DNES, and this approach will lead to a spectrum of markers and probes with a variety of clinical applications. Initial approaches progressed from cellular function toward molecular anatomy, but converse questions starting from anatomical markers are now arising.

Heterogeneity of regional cerebral glucose metabolism demonstrated in situ in rat brain by 19F NMR rotating frame zeugmatography: one dimensional chemical shift imaging of normal and gliosarcoma implanted brain

Using 19-fluorine (19F) as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal probe and 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-FDG) as metabolic probe, one dimensional "imaging" (metabolite mapping) of pathway specific glucose metabolism in the pentose monophosphate shunt (PMS) and aldose reductase sorbitol (ARS) pathways were performed in situ in rat brain utilizing one dimensional rotating frame zeugmatography. Normal brain showed highest PMS activities in the brainstem consonant with known spatially heterogeneous concentration of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, the rate limiting enzyme for the PMS. The brain harboring sufficiently large gliosarcoma in the cerebrum showed a higher PMS/ARS area ratio indicating higher PMS activities in tumor which was localized by zeugmatography. The present study demonstrated the feasibility of studying regional glucose metabolism in the PMS and ARS utilizing 2-FDG.

Differences in some of the metabolic properties of mitochondria isolated from cerebral cortex and olfactory bulb of the rat

The metabolic properties of mitochondria from rat cerebral cortex and olfactory bulb were investigated. The pyruvate-supported oxygen uptake rates by olfactory bulb mitochondria were significantly lower than those by cerebrocortical mitochondria. This is consistent with the differences in pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activities between these mitochondrial preparations. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, NAD-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase, and hexokinase activities in olfactory bulb mitochondria were significantly lower than those in cerebrocortical mitochondria. However, NADP-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase, and NAD-linked and NADP-linked glutamate dehydrogenase activities in olfactory bulb mitochondria were significantly higher than those in cerebrocortical mitochondria. The differences between these two mitochondrial preparations in terms of the activities of these energy-metabolizing enzymes reflect the differences detected in the homogenates of these regions.

A histochemical study of the distribution of beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase in developing rat cerebellum

The distribution of beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, EC 1.1.1.30) in the developing rat cerebellum has been determined using a histochemical method. Staining of Purkinje cells, particularly the soma, was seen at all ages examined. Intense staining of the proximal portions of Purkinje dendrites was noted at 8-11 days postnatally, with less prominent staining of Purkinje dendrites and surrounding structures of the molecular layer seen at later times. Development of glomeruli in the granule cell layer could also be observed due to the intense staining of these structures. (Although noncerebellar structures were not the focus of this study, intense staining of the choroid plexus of the fourth ventricle was also noted.) the transient external germinal layer of the cerebellum did not show appreciable staining. Since beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase is required for ketone body metabolism, the apparent low level of this enzyme in the external germinal layer suggests that the cells of this layer are not particularly well adapted for utilization of ketone bodies. Thus these results do not provide support for the suggestion that ketone bodies may serve as major substrates for energy metabolism in the external germinal layer of the developing cerebellum. Indeed, the rather restricted distribution of this enzyme in both developing and mature cerebellum (and presumably elsewhere in brain) suggests that ketone body metabolism may be largely confined to relatively few specific cellular compartments.

Carnitine acyltransferase activities in rat brain mitochondria. Bimodal distribution, kinetic constants, regulation by malonyl-CoA and developmental pattern

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase and carnitine octanoyltransferase activities in brain mitochondrial fractions were approx. 3-4-fold lower than activities in liver. Estimated Km values of CPT1 and CPT2 (the overt and latent forms respectively of carnitine palmitoyltransferase) for L-carnitine were 80 microM and 326 microM, respectively, and K0.5 values for palmitoyl-CoA were 18.5 microM and 12 microM respectively. CPT1 activity was strongly inhibited by malonyl-CoA, with I50 values (concn. giving 50% of maximum inhibition) of approx. 1.5 microM. In the absence of other ligands, [2-14C]malonyl-CoA bound to intact brain mitochondria in a manner consistent with the presence of two independent classes of binding sites. Estimated values for KD(1), KD(2), N1 and N2 were 18 nM, 27 microM, 1.3 pmol/mg of protein and 168 pmol/mg of protein respectively. Neither CPT1 activity, nor its sensitivity towards malonyl-CoA, was affected by 72 h starvation. Rates of oxidation of palmitoyl-CoA (in the presence of L-carnitine) or of palmitoylcarnitine by non-synaptic mitochondria were extremely low, indicating that neither CPT1 nor CPT2 was likely to be rate-limiting for beta-oxidation in brain. CPT1 activity relative to mitochondrial protein increased slightly from birth to weaning (20 days) and thereafter decreased by approx. 50%.

Regional development of glutamate dehydrogenase in the rat brain

The development of glutamate dehydrogenase enzyme activity in rat brain regions has been followed from the late foetal stage to the adult and through to the aged (greater than 2 years) adult. In the adult brain the enzyme activity was greatest in the medulla oblongata and pons greater than midbrain = hypothalamus greater than cerebellum = striatum = cortex. In the aged adult brain, glutamate dehydrogenase activity was significantly lower in the medulla oblongata and pons when compared to the 90-day-old adult value, but not in other regions. The enzyme-specific activity of nonsynaptic (free) mitochondria purified from the medulla oblongata and pons of 90-day-old animals was about twice that of mitochondria purified from the striatum and the cortex. The specific activity of the enzyme in synaptic mitochondria purified from the above three brain regions, however, remained almost constant.

Regional enzyme development in rat brain. Enzymes of energy metabolism

The development of several key enzymes of pyruvate and 3-hydroxybutyrate metabolism and of the tricarboxylic acid cycle was studied in six regions (cerebellum, medulla oblongata and pons, hypothalamus, striatum, mid-brain and cortex) of the neonatal, suckling and adult rat brain (2 days before birth to 60 days after birth). The enzymes whose developmental patterns were studied were: pyruvate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.4.1), 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.30), citrate synthase (EC 4.1.3.7), NAD-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.41) and fumarase (EC 4.2.1.2). Citrate synthase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase develop as a cluster in each region, although the pyruvate dehydrogenase appears to lag slightly behind the others. As with the glycolytic-enzyme cluster [Leong & Clark (1984) Biochem. J. 218, 131-138] the timing of the development of the activity of this group of enzymes varies from region to region; 50% of the adult activity developed first in the medulla oblongata, followed by the hypothalamus, striatum and mid-brain, and then in the cortex and cerebellum respectively. The 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity also develops earlier in the medulla oblongata than in the other regions. The results are discussed with respect to the neurophylogenetic development of the brain regions studied and the importance of the development of the enzymes of aerobic glycolysis in relationship to the development of neurological maturation.