CHRONIC DEPRESSION OF GLUCOSE-METABOLISM IN POSTISCHEMIC RAT BRAINS

Background and Purpose The present investigation aimed to quantify fun ctional activity in rat brains after long-term recovery from transient forebrain ischemia. Methods With the use of the [C-14]2-deoxyglucose method, local cerebral glucose utilization was measured in 62 cortical and subcortical brain regions in postischemic rat brains. Transient f orebrain ischemia of 10 minutes' duration was induced by clamping the common carotid arteries and simultaneously lowering blood pressure to 40 mm Hg. Rats survived the insults for 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, or 3 months. Results Reductions predominated in the majority of gray matte r structures at all time points investigated (P<.05). Except for a few areas, recoveries of local cerebral glucose utilization to preischemi c levels did not occur. Conclusions The data illustrate that widesprea d alterations of functional activity prevail in postischemic brains be yond the selectively vulnerable regions. The present functional data a re in line with previous stereological results of reduced fresh volume s in the majority of postischemic brain structures. The data suggest t hat chronic alterations of ischemic brains are not confined to the sel ectively vulnerable regions.