title: Effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on acetylcholine metabolism in rat brain.
abstract: The main objective of this study was to determine whether uncontrolled hyperglycemia, as a consequence of diabetes, altered the metabolism of acetylcholine (ACh) in rat brain. To accomplish this, rats received injections of streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg, i.v.) or vehicle, and were maintained for up to 7 weeks after the injections. Various indices of ACh metabolism were determined in striatum and hippocampus, two brain regions densely innervated by cholinergic neurons. STZ induced diabetes in 96% of the rats injected, as evidenced by glucose spillage into the urine within 48 hours. Serum glucose levels increased to 326% of control values by 1 week and remained at this level for the duration of the study. The steady-state concentrations of ACh and choline, determined in brain tissue from animals killed by head-focused microwave irradiation, did not differ between the control and STZ-injected groups. However, the synthesis and release of neurotransmitter by striatal slices, measured in vitro, decreased in a time-dependent manner. Although the basal release of ACh was unaltered at 1 week, neurotransmitter release decreased significantly by 21% at 5 weeks and by 26% at 7 weeks. The release of ACh evoked by incubation with 35 mM KCl was inhibited significantly by 20% at all time points studied. ACh synthesis by slices incubated under basal conditions decreased by 13% and 27% at 5- and 7-weeks, respectively, the latter significantly less than controls. Synthesis by striatal slices incubated with 35 mM KCl was inhibited by 17% at 7 weeks.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wecker
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D013311:Streptozocin; D002794:Choline; D000109:Acetylcholine