Magnetic resonance spectroscopic approaches to studying neuronal: glial interactions.
In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a noninvasive technique for the measurement of the concentration and synthesis of metabolites in the brain. Application of the state-of-the-art in vivo (13)C and (15)N MRS techniques to studying the synthesis of glutamate and glutamine has revealed that the glutamate-glutamine cycle between neurons and glia is a major metabolic flux, with a flux rate of 60%-80% relative to neuronal oxidative glucose metabolism in the resting human cerebral cortex. The MRS studies leading to the quantification of the glutamate-glutamine cycling flux are reviewed here. The advantages and limitations of different strategies are also discussed.
Shen
Jun
J
The Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York, USA.
Rothman
Douglas L
DL
D000818:Animals; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*
D005973:Glutamine; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005947:Glucose