Open AccessLactate rise detected by 1H NMR in human visual cortex during physiologic stimulation.
Author(s) -
James W. Prichard,
Douglas L. Rothman,
Edward J. Novotny,
Ognen A. C. Petroff,
Takeo Kuwabara,
Malcolm J. Avison,
A. Howseman,
Christopher C. Hanstock,
Robert G. Shulman
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.88.13.5829
Subject(s) - stimulation , glycolysis , visual cortex , respiration , cortex (anatomy) , cerebral cortex , in vivo , medicine , endocrinology , chemistry , biology , neuroscience , metabolism , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology
Brain lactate concentration is usually assumed to be stable except when pathologic conditions cause a mismatch between glycolysis and respiration. Using newly developed 1H NMR spectroscopic techniques that allow measurement of lactate in vivo, we detected lactate elevations of 0.3-0.9 mM in human visual cortex during physiologic photic stimulation. The maximum rise appeared in the first few minutes; thereafter lactate concentration declined while stimulation continued. The results are consistent with a transient excess of glycolysis over respiration in the visual cortex, occurring as a normal response to stimulation in the physiologic range.