Brain bioenergetics in murine models of scrapie using in vivo P-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy

THE bioenergetic status of the brain in scrapie mouse models was investigat ed during the late, clinical phase of the disease, by in vivo phosphorus ma gnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The only significant change observed i n the scrapie-infected mice compared with controls was an increase in intra cellular brain pH (7.20+/-0.06 vs 7.10+/-0.05). No other changes in energet ic metabolism were observed in the infected mice beside a trend in the decr ease of phosphomonoester (PME) level, possibly associated with an alteratio n in glycolytic intermediates. This study showed that even in the presence of severe cellular vacuolation and microglia infiltrate, cerebral bioenerge tic is maintained. NeuroReport 10:1899-1901 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.