Different metabolic changes in the lateral geniculate nucleus and the superior colliculus of adult rats after simultaneous or delayed double enucleation.
By means of the [14C]deoxyglucose method the local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) was measured in the lateral geniculate nucleus and the superior colliculus of rats with a simultaneous double enucleation, animals with an enucleation of the right eye between neonatal and adult stages followed by an enucleation of the left eye some months later and adult control rats. The control animals show LCGU values within the limits published by other observers. The LCGU values of the simultaneously double-enucleated rats are reduced on both sides to the same extent by about 20%. The dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus shows the largest decrease. The LCGU values of the rats with the delayed double enucleation have decreased even more (up to 37%). The right sided visual brain regions have a significantly lower LCGU than the corresponding regions on the left side. These findings indicate that unilateral enucleation from neonatal to adult stages leads to adaptive changes resulting in a higher metabolic vulnerability, which is revealed by the second enucleation.
Zilles
K
K
Anatomical Institute, University of Cologne, F.R.G.
Wree
A
A
Petrovic-Minic
B
B
Schleicher
A
A
Beck
T
T
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology