Tritiated 2-deoxy-D-glucose: a high-resolution marker for autoradiographic localization of brain metabolism

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · J. Comp. Neurol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.902220111· OSTI ID:6965380

Hammer, Jr, R P; Herkenham, M

The technique for autoradiographic localization of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) uptake has become a useful method for observing alterations of functional brain activity resulting from experimental manipulation. Autoradiographic resolution is improved using tritiated ((3H)) rather than carbon-14 ((14C))2DG, due to the lower energy and shorter path of tritium emissions. In addition, lower 2DG uptake by white matter relative to gray matter is exaggerated in the (3H)2DG autoradiographs due to the greater absorption of tritium emissions by lipids. Using (3H)2DG, it is possible to observe differential metabolic labeling in various individual nuclei or portions of nuclei that is unresolvable using (14C)2DG in the awake, normal animal. Heterogeneous patterns of 2DG uptake seen only with (3H)2DG are found in the nucleus accumbens, the anterior portion of the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala, specific nuclei of the inferior olivary complex, various hypothalamic regions, and a region straddling the border of the medial and lateral habenular nuclei. The lamination of differential 2DG uptake in the hippocampus is better localized using (3H)2DG. Autoradiographic resolution of labeled 2DG is further improved when the brain is perfused prior to frozen sectioning, due perhaps to selective fixation and retention of intracellular labeled 2-deoxy-glycogen. A series of (3H)2DG autoradiographs are presented together with views of the Nissl-stained sections that produced the autoradiographs.

• Research Organization: Laboratory of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland
• OSTI ID: 6965380
• Journal Information: J. Comp. Neurol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Comp. Neurol.; (United States) Vol. 222:1; ISSN JCNEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ALDEHYDES
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
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CARBOHYDRATES
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
GLUCOSE
HEXOSES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
METABOLISM
MONOSACCHARIDES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
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SAMPLE PREPARATION
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS