Cerebral metabolism of amino acids and glucose in fed and fasted sheep [Starvation]

J. M. Pell and E. N. Bergman Net cerebral uptake from or release into whole blood of oxygen, carbon dioxide, glucose, amino acids, lactate, pyruvate, ketone bodies, and acetate was estimated in fed, 3-day-fasted, and 6-day-fasted sheep. The respiratory quotient was similar in all three groups of sheep (approximately 0.95). Glucose uptake (35 mumol X min-1 X 100 g-1) was maintained during fasting, and about 94% of the cerebral oxygen consumption could have been accounted for by glucose oxidation in all sheep. A cerebral uptake of the branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) and proline also was observed with a concomitant production of glutamine and asparagine. The brains of fed and 3-day-fasted sheep were in nitrogen balance, but a small net release of nitrogen occurred in 6-day-fasted sheep (2 mumol N. min-1 X 100 g-1). A small amount of pyruvate was always released (1.4 mumol X min-1 X 100 g-1) into the blood, whereas lactate was released (6 mumol X min-1 X 100 g-1) only in 6-day-fasted sheep. Ketone body and acetate utilization always was negligible when compared with that for glucose. The total cerebral nonglucose carbon release found for 6-day-fasted sheep was equivalent to 23% of the glucose carbon taken up, although only 8% could have been derived directly from glucose. Thus, metabolism by the ovine brain seems resistant to prolonged periods of hypoglycemia with only small adaptations occurring after a 6-day fast.