Lactate rise detected by 1H NMR in human visual cortex during physiologic stimulation.
Brain lactate concentration is usually assumed to be stable except when pathologic conditions cause a mismatch between glycolysis and respiration. Using newly developed 1H NMR spectroscopic techniques that allow measurement of lactate in vivo, we detected lactate elevations of 0.3-0.9 mM in human visual cortex during physiologic photic stimulation. The maximum rise appeared in the first few minutes; thereafter lactate concentration declined while stimulation continued. The results are consistent with a transient excess of glycolysis over respiration in the visual cortex, occurring as a normal response to stimulation in the physiologic range.
Prichard
J
J
Department of Neurology, Yale Medical School, New Haven, CT 06510.
Rothman
D
D
Novotny
E
E
Petroff
O
O
Kuwabara
T
T
Avison
M
M
Howseman
A
A
Hanstock
C
C
Shulman
R
R
D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000378:metabolism*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*
D007773:Lactates