Effects of early chronic phenobarbital treatment on the maturation of energy metabolism in the developing rat brain. II. Incorporation of beta-hydroxybutyrate into amino acids.
The influence of phenobarbital (PhB) on the utilization of beta-hydroxybutyrate by the cerebral cortex and the cerebellum was studied in rats during postnatal maturation. The animals were treated from day 2 to day 35 after birth either by a daily injection of 50 mg/kg PhB or by saline. The rats were studied at 5 postnatal stages: 7, 10, 14, 21 and 35 days. Plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate levels reached their peak values between 10 and 14 days after birth. The concentration of both ketone bodies was significantly higher in PhB- than in saline-treated rats between 10 and 35 days after birth. The total incorporation of [3-14C]beta-hydroxybutyrate into amino acids reached a peak value at 14 days after birth and was down to very low values at 35 days. It was higher in PhB- than in saline-treated rats. The specific radioactivity values of glutamate, glutamine, aspartate and GABA were significantly higher in PhB- than in saline-treated especially at 10 days after birth. These results demonstrate that a PhB treatment induces an increase in brain ketone body utilization in neonate rats, which is likely to balance the decrease in brain glucose utilization induced by this pharmacological treatment.
INSERM U. 272, Université de Nancy, France.
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Pereira de Vasconcelos
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Schroeder
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Nehlig
D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid; D000090:Acetoacetates / Q000097:blood; D000375:Aging; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000091402:Prohibitins; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000090:Acetoacetates; D000596:Amino Acids; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; C000717332:Phb protein, rat; D000091402:Prohibitins; C016635:acetoacetic acid; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid; D010634:Phenobarbital