title: Local changes in cerebral 2-deoxyglucose uptake during alphaxalone anaesthesia with special reference to the habenulo-interpeduncular system.
abstract: The effects of the steroid anaesthetic Althesin (alphaxalone plus alphadolone acetate) on regional cerebral metabolism was studied in female rats. [14C]2-Deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake was measured in 19 discrete anatomical areas by quantitative autoradiography. Under Althesin anaesthesia metabolic activity, relative to the corpus callosum ( rma ), was significantly (24-46%) increased in the locus coeruleus, medial (but not lateral) habenula (Hb) and interpeduncular nucleus (IPN). The Hb-IPN tract, not discernible in autoradiograms from conscious rats, became readily apparent in films from anaesthetized rats. However, the increased metabolic activity of this pathway was not associated with a significant change in the tissue concentrations of substance P in either the Hb or IPN. In sensorimotor and visual cortex, caudate nucleus, thalamic nuclei and the medial geniculate body rma was significantly (26-38%) depressed. Metabolic activity in the other 8 areas measured was unaffected by Althesin. Destruction of the stria medullaris input to the habenulae prevented the Althesin-induced increase in 2-DG uptake by the MHb and LHb.
mesh_terms: D000530:Alfaxalone Alfadolone Mixture / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000378:metabolism; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000378:metabolism; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D013373:Substance P; D000530:Alfaxalone Alfadolone Mixture; D010424:Pentobarbital; D005947:Glucose