The Action of Glutamic Acid in Hypoglycaemic Coma

1949 ◽  
Vol 95 (401) ◽  
pp. 930-944 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Weil-Malherbe

The loss of consciousness in hypoglycaemia is generally regarded as a direct consequence of the fact that the brain cells are being increasingly deprived of glucose, their principal fuel. The prompt relief of symptoms by glucose administration led to a number of investigations on the effect of other substrates known to sustain the respiration of surviving brain slices in vitro. Amongst these are various mono- and disaccharides, and such acids as lactic, pyruvic, succinic or glutamic acid which may be formed from glucose in the course of its metabolism. It appeared, however, that, in contrast to their in vitro action, most of these substances, including glutamic acid, were unable to relieve the symptoms of hypoglycaemia in eviscerated or hepatectomized animals (Bollmann and Mann, 1931; Maddock, Hawkins and Holmes, 1939). Similarly, lactic and pyruvic acids were found to have no effect on the oxygen consumption of the brain or the comatose state of hypoglycaemic patients undergoing insulin shock therapy (Wortis and Goldfarb, 1940; Goldfarb and Wort is, 1941). It has been shown for several substrates, including glutamic acid, that their rate of diffusion from the blood stream into brain tissue was markedly slower than that of glucose, and that therefore the concentration necessary for the maintenance of nervous function was not reached (Klein, Hurwitz and Olsen, 1946; Klein and Olsen, 1947). In harmony with this are the observations of Fried berg and Greenberg (1947), and of Waelsch, Schwerin and Bessman (1949) that intravenously injected glutamic acid is not taken up by brain tissue. The differences between the in vitro and in vivo results seemed to be adequately explained by these experiments.

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mira Puthettu ◽  
Stijn Vandenberghe ◽  
Stefanos Demertzis

Abstract Background During cardiac surgery, micro-air emboli regularly enter the blood stream and can cause cognitive impairment or stroke. It is not clearly understood whether the most threatening air emboli are generated by the heart-lung machine (HLM) or by the blood-air contact when opening the heart. We performed an in vitro study to assess, for the two sources, air emboli distribution in the arterial tree, especially in the brain region, during cardiac surgery with different cannulation sites. Methods A model of the arterial tree was 3D printed and included in a hydraulic circuit, divided such that flow going to the brain was separated from the rest of the circuit. Air micro-emboli were injected either in the HLM (“ECC Bubbles”) or in the mock left ventricle (“Heart Bubbles”) to simulate the two sources. Emboli distribution was measured with an ultrasonic bubble counter. Five repetitions were performed for each combination of injection site and cannulation site, where air bubble counts and volumes were recorded. Air bubbles were separated in three categories based on size. Results For both injection sites, it was possible to identify statistically significant differences between cannulation sites. For ECC Bubbles, axillary cannulation led to a higher amount of air bubbles in the brain with medium-sized bubbles. For Heart Bubbles, aortic cannulation showed a significantly bigger embolic load in the brain with large bubbles. Conclusions These preliminary in vitro findings showed that air embolic load in the brain may be dependent on the cannulation site, which deserves further in vivo exploration.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi222-vi222
Author(s):  
Breanna Mann ◽  
Noah Bell ◽  
Denise Dunn ◽  
Scott Floyd ◽  
Shawn Hingtgen ◽  
...  

Abstract Brain cancers remain one of the greatest medical challenges. The lack of experimentally tractable models that recapitulate brain structure/function represents a major impediment. Platforms that enable functional testing in high-fidelity models are urgently needed to accelerate the identification and translation of therapies to improve outcomes for patients suffering from brain cancer. In vitro assays are often too simple and artificial while in vivo studies can be time-intensive and complicated. Our live, organotypic brain slice platform can be used to seed and grow brain cancer cell lines, allowing us to bridge the existing gap in models. These tumors can rapidly establish within the brain slice microenvironment, and morphologic features of the tumor can be seen within a short period of time. The growth, migration, and treatment dynamics of tumors seen on the slices recapitulate what is observed in vivo yet is missed by in vitro models. Additionally, the brain slice platform allows for the dual seeding of different cell lines to simulate characteristics of heterogeneous tumors. Furthermore, live brain slices with embedded tumor can be generated from tumor-bearing mice. This method allows us to quantify tumor burden more effectively and allows for treatment and retreatment of the slices to understand treatment response and resistance that may occur in vivo. This brain slice platform lays the groundwork for a new clinically relevant preclinical model which provides physiologically relevant answers in a short amount of time leading to an acceleration of therapeutic translation.


1936 ◽  
Vol 82 (339) ◽  
pp. 431-433
Author(s):  
J. H. Quastel

I want to speak of the work we have been doing in Cardiff on the metabolism of the nervous system. The work was carried out there because of the importance of the narcosis treatment. It seemed to us there a pity that a treatment such as that should be given up because of the considerable toxicity possible in relation to it. The research was undertaken to see if we could diminish the toxicity, at the same time seeking an idea as to how narcotics work. I ask that you will realize that the main substance burned by the brain is glucose. The dominant form of metabolism in the nervous system is connected with the breakdown of glucose and lactic acid, and this can be proved by experiment in the living animal and with brain-tissue in vitro. In doing experiments we are not able to carry out work with human brain, because we cannot get human tissue fresh enough, so we have to carry out experiments with animals. They are carried out in this way. We cut slices of the cortex of the brain as soon as the animal is dead, that is to say, within ten minutes of death the brain is out and slices have been cut. They are placed in a physiological medium in the presence of glucose, and we follow the metabolism of that tissue, which allows us to estimate the amount of oxygen being taken up by the brain. If luminal, chloretone, hyoscine or somnifaine be placed with the brain-tissue, then the respiration, instead of being at the usual level, starts lower down, and maintains a straight line. We wanted to see whether this action is reversible or irreversible. If the latter, then on removing the brain-slices from the narcotic it should no longer behave like a normal piece of tissue. Actually, when the brain-slice is removed and placed in Ringer solution, with no narcotic, the respiration goes up and becomes equal to that shown by the slice which had no narcotic. That is to say, the process is reversible.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi265-vi265
Author(s):  
Zev Binder ◽  
Sarah Hyun Ji Kim ◽  
Pei-Hsun Wu ◽  
Anjil Giri ◽  
Gary Gallia ◽  
...  

Abstract Current model systems used for GBM research include traditional in vitro cell line-based assays and in vivo animal studies. In vitro model systems offer the advantages of being easy to use, relatively inexpensive, and fast growing. However, these models lack key elements of the pathology they are attempting to model, including the biochemical and biophysical microenvironment and three-dimensional structure inherent to human brain tissue. In vivo model systems address these limitations, but have restrictions of their own. Species differences may result in non-applicable results and animal experiments are often not designed like clinical trials. Evidence of the limitations of current GBM models is found in the disparity between basic research findings and successful new treatments for GBMs in the clinic. Here we present an alternative model system for the study of human GBM cell motility and invasion, which features advantages of both in vitro and in vivo model systems. Using human organotypic brain slices as scaffolding for tumor growth, we explored the dynamic process of GBM cell invasion within human brain tissue. To demonstrate the utility of the model system, we investigated the effects of depletion of integrin α V (ITGAV) and CD44 on GBM cell motility. These two cell-surface proteins have been identified to have key functions in GBM cell motility. However, knockdown of ITGAV had little effect on tumor cell motility in organotypics while CD44 knockdown significantly reduced cell movement. Finally, we compare motility results from cells in human brain slices to those from cells growing on standard Matrigel and in mouse brain organotypics. We found significant differences in motility depending on the substrate in which the cells were moving. Our findings highlight the physiologic characteristics of human brain organotypics and demonstrate the use of real-time imaging in the ex vivo system.


2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Curley ◽  
Rajith K. R. Rajoli ◽  
Darren M. Moss ◽  
Neill J. Liptrott ◽  
Scott Letendre ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Adequate concentrations of efavirenz in the central nervous system (CNS) are necessary to suppress viral replication, but high concentrations may increase the likelihood of CNS adverse drug reactions. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the efavirenz distribution in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the brain by using a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) simulation for comparison with rodent and human data. The efavirenz CNS distribution was calculated using a permeability-limited model on a virtual cohort of 100 patients receiving efavirenz (600 mg once daily). Simulation data were then compared with human data from the literature and with rodent data. Wistar rats were administered efavirenz (10 mg kg of body weight−1) once daily over 5 weeks. Plasma and brain tissue were collected for analysis via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The median maximum concentrations of drug (C max) were predicted to be 3,184 ng ml−1 (interquartile range [IQR], 2,219 to 4,851 ng ml−1), 49.9 ng ml−1 (IQR, 36.6 to 69.7 ng ml−1), and 50,343 ng ml−1 (IQR, 38,351 to 65,799 ng ml−1) in plasma, CSF, and brain tissue, respectively, giving a tissue-to-plasma ratio of 15.8. Following 5 weeks of oral dosing of efavirenz (10 mg kg−1), the median plasma and brain tissue concentrations in rats were 69.7 ng ml−1 (IQR, 44.9 to 130.6 ng ml−1) and 702.9 ng ml−1 (IQR, 475.5 to 1,018.0 ng ml−1), respectively, and the median tissue-to-plasma ratio was 9.5 (IQR, 7.0 to 10.9). Although it is useful, measurement of CSF concentrations may give an underestimation of the penetration of antiretrovirals into the brain. The limitations associated with obtaining tissue biopsy specimens and paired plasma and CSF samples from patients make PBPK modeling an attractive tool for probing drug distribution.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary Geiger ◽  
Brett VanVeller ◽  
Zarin Lopez ◽  
Abdel K. Harrata ◽  
Kathryn Battani ◽  
...  

Ketamine has been in use for over 50 years as a general anesthetic, acting primarily through blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in the brain. Recent studies have demonstrated that ketamine also acts as a potent and rapid-acting antidepressant when administered at sub-anesthetic doses. However, the precise mechanism behind this effect remains unclear. We examined the diffusion properties of ketamine in brain tissue to determine their effects in in vitro studies related to the antidepressant action of ketamine. Brain slices from adult mice were exposed to artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) containing ∼17 μM ketamine HCl for varying amounts of time. The amount of ketamine within each slice was then measured by tandem high-performance liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry to characterize the diffusion of ketamine into brain tissue over time. We successfully modeled the diffusion of ketamine into brain tissue using a mono-exponential function with a time constant of τ = 6.59 min. This curve was then compared to a one-dimensional model of diffusion yielding a diffusion coefficient of approximately 0.12 cm2⋅s–1 for ketamine diffusing into brain tissue. The brain:aCSF partition coefficient for ketamine was determined to be approximately 2.76. Our results suggest that the diffusion properties of ketamine have a significant effect on drug concentrations achieved within brain tissue during in vitro experiments. This information is vital to determine the ketamine concentration necessary for in vitro slice preparation to accurately reflect in vivo doses responsible for its antidepressant actions.


1982 ◽  
Vol 206 (3) ◽  
pp. 433-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
S A K Harvey ◽  
R F G Booth ◽  
J B Clark

Synaptosomes from several regions of the rat brain were found to exhibit half-maximal rates of 14CO2 output and [14C]acetylcholine synthesis from D-[U-14C]glucose at glucose concentrations approx. 50-fold lower than those required by the brain in situ. However, synaptosomal acetylcholine synthesis was found not to be directly proportional to substrate oxidation as measured by 14CO2 output. When synaptosomes had been exposed to anoxia in vitro, their metabolic indices (14CO2 and [14C]acetylcholine synthesis, and adenine nucleotide levels) were found not to be significantly different from control aerobic values, unless they had been subjected to veratridine depolarization. This is in accord with previous findings that neither the absolute metabolic rates nor the vulnerability to hypoxic damage exhibited by brain in situ is reflected by brain slices in vitro, unless these are stimulated by depolarization. The use of synaptosomes as a model for synaptic damage in vivo is discussed.


2010 ◽  
Vol 299 (6) ◽  
pp. C1277-C1284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy S. Yu ◽  
Bruce A. Hirayama ◽  
Gerald Timbol ◽  
Jie Liu ◽  
Ernest Basarah ◽  
...  

This work provides evidence of previously unrecognized uptake of glucose via sodium-coupled glucose transporters (SGLTs) in specific regions of the brain. The current understanding of functional glucose utilization in brain is largely based on studies using positron emission tomography (PET) with the glucose tracer 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-d-glucose (2-FDG). However, 2-FDG is only a good substrate for facilitated-glucose transporters (GLUTs), not for SGLTs. Thus, glucose accumulation measured by 2-FDG omits the role of SGLTs. We designed and synthesized two high-affinity tracers: one, α-methyl-4-[F-18]fluoro-4-deoxy-d-glucopyranoside (Me-4FDG), is a highly specific SGLT substrate and not transported by GLUTs; the other one, 4-[F-18]fluoro-4-deoxy-d-glucose (4-FDG), is transported by both SGLTs and GLUTs and will pass through the blood brain barrier (BBB). In vitro Me-4FDG autoradiography was used to map the distribution of uptake by functional SGLTs in brain slices with a comparable result from in vitro 4-FDG autoradiography. Immunohistochemical assays showed that uptake was consistent with the distribution of SGLT protein. Ex vivo 4-FDG autoradiography showed that SGLTs in these areas are functionally active in the normal in vivo brain. The results establish that SGLTs are a normal part of the physiology of specific areas of the brain, including hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, and cerebral cortices. 4-FDG PET imaging also established that this BBB-permeable SGLT tracer now offers a functional imaging approach in humans to assess regulation of SGLT activity in health and disease.


Author(s):  
Beverly E. Maleeff ◽  
Timothy K. Hart ◽  
Stephen J. Wood ◽  
Ronald Wetzel

Alzheimer's disease is characterized post-mortem in part by abnormal extracellular neuritic plaques found in brain tissue. There appears to be a correlation between the severity of Alzheimer's dementia in vivo and the number of plaques found in particular areas of the brain. These plaques are known to be the deposition sites of fibrils of the protein β-amyloid. It is thought that if the assembly of these plaques could be inhibited, the severity of the disease would be decreased. The peptide fragment Aβ, a precursor of the p-amyloid protein, has a 40 amino acid sequence, and has been shown to be toxic to neuronal cells in culture after an aging process of several days. This toxicity corresponds to the kinetics of in vitro amyloid fibril formation. In this study, we report the biochemical and ultrastructural effects of pH and the inhibitory agent hexadecyl-N-methylpiperidinium (HMP) bromide, one of a class of ionic micellar detergents known to be capable of solubilizing hydrophobic peptides, on the in vitro assembly of the peptide fragment Aβ.


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