GLUCOSE-METABOLISM IN NEURONAL PERIKARYA AND SYNAPTOSOMES OF RAT CEREBRAL-CORTEX - EFFECT OF AMMONIA

Effect of ammonia on glucose metabolism was studied in neuronal and sy naptosomal enriched fractions of rat cerebral cortex. Production of (C O2)-C-14 from [U-C-14] glucose was enhanced in both the cellular fract ions during hyperammonemic states. In general, both neuronal and synap tosomal levels of glucose-6-phosphate, fructose-6-phosphate, phosphoen olpyruvate and pyruvate were elevated markedly in hyperammonemic anima ls. Except for neuronal hexokinase, lactate dehydrogenase (in both the directions) and synaptosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase , lactate dehydrogenase (pyruvate --> lactate), all the enzymes of gly colytic pathway were elevated by hyperammonemia. It is suggested that the flux through glycolysis in neuronal and synaptosomal fractions of cerebral cortex is enhanced in hyperammonemic states.