29: Cerebral metabolism during starvation in infant and adult rats and the effect of int'rauterine growth retardation (IUG-R)

Abstract

Cerebral blood flow (CBP) was measured with radioactive microspheres in 20 days old IUGR rats, normal littermates and adult rats. Cerebral a-v diff. of acetoacetate (AcAc), D-β-hydroxybutyrate (βHBA), glucose, lactate, oxygen and brain DNA content were determined in other corresponding groups of similarly treated animals. Mean CBF values of 0.48±0.04 and 0.62±0.07 ml/gxmin(± SEM) in infant and adult rats resp. were not sign. diff. CBF was unaffected by starvation and was not diff. between IUGR and normal littermates. Cerebral uptake of ketone bodies (umol/mg DNAxmin) was higher in infant than adult rats during starvation. Cerebral uptake ofβHBA was higher in controls than in IUGR rats after 48 h. of starvation. Uptake of glucose was not diff. between infant and adult rats or between IUGR and normal, littermates. Arterial blood glucose was sign, lower in 48 h. starved IUGR rats than controls. Cerebral uptake of oxygen was lower in infant than adult rats and also lower in IUGR than normal littermates during starvation. The average percentage of the total cerebral uptake of substrate (mmol/min) accounted for by ketone bodies was 15.2, 25.7 and 41.0 % resp. in adult rats, 20 days old IUGR and normal littermates. Conclusion: l) Ketone bodies are more important substrates for the brain in 20 days old than adult rats during starvation. 2) Cerebral utilization of ketone bodies is reduced in 20 day IUGR rats compared to normal littermates suggesting greater sensitivity to starvation.

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