Glucose transporters, hexokinase, and phosphofrudokinase in brain of rats with perinatal asphyxia

Transport by glucose transporters from blood to the brain during hypoxic-is chemic conditions is well studied. However, the recent availability of a cl inically related animal model of perinatal asphyxia and the fact that no co ncomitant determination of glucose transporters, parameters for glucose uti lization, brain glucose, and cerebral blood flow (CBF) have been reported a nd the early phase of perinatal asphyxia has never been studied led us to p erform the following study. Cesarean section was performed on full-term pre gnant rats. The obtained pups within patent uterus hems were placed into a water bath at 37 degrees C from which they were subsequently removed after 5-20 min of graded asphyxia. Brain pH brain tissue glucose, CBF, mRNA and a ctivity of hexokinase and phosphofructokinase, and mRNA and protein of the glucose transporters GLUT1 and GLUT3 were determined. Brain pH decreased an d brain tissue glucose and CBF increased with the length of the asphyctic p eriod; hexokinase and phosphofructokinase mRNA and activity were unchanged during the observation period. The mRNA and protein of both glucose transpo rters were comparable between normoxic and asphyctic groups. We show that g lucose transport and utilization are unchanged in the early phase of perina tal asphyxia at a time point when CBF and brain glucose are already signifi cantly increased and severe acidosis is present.