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EFFECTS OF SALT AND WATER LOADING ON CARBOHYDRATE AND ENERGY METABOLISM AND LEVELS OF SELECTED AMINO ACIDS IN THE BRAINS OF YOUNG MICE 1
Author(s) -
Thurston Jean Holowach,
Hauhart R. E.,
Jones Elizabeth M.,
Ater JoAnn L.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1975.tb03661.x
Subject(s) - medicine , glutamine , endocrinology , glutamate receptor , amino acid , chemistry , alanine , taurine , tonicity , sodium , fructose , osmoregulation , hypertonic saline , hyponatremia , biochemistry , biology , salinity , ecology , receptor , organic chemistry
—This is a report of the effect of extreme changes in plasma sodium concentration induced by chronic (5 d) water deprivation and hypertonic saline injections and acute (4 h) overhydration with hypotonic glucose or fructose on the water and electrolyte content and levels of selected metabolites in the brains of young mice. In the dehydrated hypernatremic mice (plasma Na + , 186 × 3 mequiv./1) significant increases were found in brain glucose (82%), alanine (16%), aspartate (45%), glutamate (19%), gamma‐amino butyrate (34%) and glutamine (42%) concentrations. In striking contrast, water‐intoxicated mice (plasma Na + , 110 × 4 mequiv./1) had significantly decreased levels of alanine (17%), aspartate (38%) and glutamate (33%). Significant reductions in brain lactate (30–40%) and malate concentrations (23%) in both groups of experimental mice are suggestive of reduced cerebral metabolic rate. During adaptation to increased or decreased environmental salinity, levels of amino acids in amphibian brain increase or decrease, respectively, to maintain osmotic equilibrium and to limit the loss or gain of water in brain. The data show that a similar protective response can be evoked in mammalian brain.