1144 NEONATAL CEREBRAL ENERGY METABOLISM FOLLOWING EXTENDED MATERNAL CANINE STARVATION (MCS)

Abstract

Eight pregnant dogs were fasted for 5 days while 6 controls were fasted overnight. After birth, pups were fasted and sacrificed at 0,3,6,9 and 24 hrs of age. Though fetal cerebral glucose (CG) values were equivalent, CG levels became lower following MCS at 3 hrs (1.7±.32vs3.7±.71μ mol/g)⁺. Thereafter, CG levels were equivalent. Fetal cerebral glycogen (Gly) content was unaffected by MCS however after 24 hrs of neonatal fasting and MCS Gly was lower (1.82±.09vs2.46±.24). Glucose-6-phosphate was unaltered but fructose-6-phosphate was lower at 0,6 and 9 hrs in MCS pups. Cerebral pyruvate levels were similar however lactate was lower at 3 and 6 hrs after MCS. The cytoplasmic NAD/NADH ratio was increased after MCS at 3 hrs (1394±104vs1005±146). There were no alterations of fetal or neonatal citrate levels. Malate was lower in MCS pups at 3,6 and 9 hrs while oxaloacetate was increased at 0 hrs. Aspartate levels were elevated following MCS at 3 and 6 hrs while glutamine was decreased at 3,6 and 9 hrs. Fetal levels of phosphocreatine (PC) and ATP were equivalent. However cerebral PC was depressed at 3,6 and 9 hrs, while ATP was lower at 6 and 9 hrs after MCS. The total adenine nucleotide pool, though equivalent at birth, became lower at 3,6 and 9 hrs. The cerebral energy reserve was lower in MCS pups at 3,6,9 and 24 hrs. These data suggest that neonatal canine cerebral energy metabolism has been adversely affected following MCS. Energy production in particular is most affected as ATP, PC and the total adenine nucleotide pool are diminished.

^*Deceased

⁺Mean±SE

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