Brain water content, glucose transporter densities and glucose utilizationafter 3 days of water deprivation in the rat

After 3 days of water deprivation, the following parameters were measured i n rats: (i) brain water content (apparent diffusion coefficient); (ii) loca l cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) ([C-14]deoxyglucose method) and (iii) densities of glucose transporters Glut1 and Glut3 (immunoautoradiography). The results show that brain water content is maintained after water depriv ation. Densities of glucose transporters Glut1 and Glut3 increased in paral lel to increased LCGU in some of the osmoregulatory structures indicating a long-term local adaptation of glucose transporters to LCGU. (C) 1999 Elsev ier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.