Abstract
Of possible sources of metabolic support for brain function in vivo,only glucose has been shown to be capable of maintaining cerebral tissues satisfactorily. Other sugars, e.g., mannose and maltose, have been found capable of supporting brain function in hepatectomized animals(1,2) but were considered to be converted to glucose elsewhere in the body before reaching the brain. Fructose will not support normal cerebral function in hepatectomized animals(1) and is utilized only very slowly by the brain in perfused preparations.(3) The brain relies on a rapid utilization of the glucose brought to it from the bloodstream and is particularly dependent on the circulating blood glucose, as it has a relatively small reserve of glycogen (less than that of muscle tissues).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
S. J. Maddock, J. E. Hawkins, and E. Holmes, The inadequacy of substances of the “glucose cycle” for maintenance of normal cortical potentials during hypoglucemia produced by hepatectomy with abdominal evisceration, Am. J. Physiol. 125: 551–565 (1939).
F. C. Mann and T. B. Magath, The effect of administration of glucose in the condition following total extirpation of the liver, Arch. Internal Med. 30: 171–181 (1922).
A. Geiger, J. Magnes, R. M. Taylor, and M. Veralli, Effect of blood constituents on uptake of glucose and on metabolic rates of the brain in perfusion experiments, Am. J. Physiol. 177: 138–149 (1954).
W. Thorn, H. Scholl, G. Pfleiderer, and B. Mueldener, Metabolic processes in the brain at normal and reduced temperatures and under anoxic and ischaemic conditions, J. Neurochem. 2: 150–165 (1958).
S. E. Kerr, Studies on the phosphorus compounds of the brain. I. Phosphocreatine, J. Biol. Chem. 110: 625–635 (1935).
D. Richter and R. M. C. Dawson, Brain metabolism in emotional excitement and in sleep, Am. J. Physiol. 154: 73–79 (1948).
A. Chester and H. E. Himwich, The glycogen content of various parts of the central nervous system of dogs and cats at different ages, Arch. Biochem. 2: 175–181 (1943).
M. R. A. Chance and D. C. Yaxley, Central nervous function and changes in brain metabolite concentration. I. Glycogen and lactate in convulsing mice, J. Exptl. Biol. 27: 311–323 (1950).
K. F. Gey, The concentration of glucose in rat tissues, Biochem. J. 64: 145–150 (1956).
C. M. Damron, M. M. Monier, and J. H. Roe, Metabolism of L-ascorbic acid, dehydro-Lascorbic acid and diketo-L-gulonic acid in the guinea pig, J. Biol. Chem. 195: 599–606 (1952).
S. Lin and H. P. Cohen, The effect of scorbutus and pentobarbital on the in vivo levels of “energy-rich” phosphates and their turnover in guinea pig cerebral tissue, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 88: 256–261 (1960).
H. Lowry, J. V. Passonneau, F. X. Hasselberger, and D. W. Schulz, Effect of ischemia on known substrates and cofactors of the glycolytic pathway in brain, J. Biol. Chem. 239: 18–30 (1964).
J. K. Tews, S. H. Carter, and W. E. Stone, Chemical changes in the brain during insulin hypoglycaemia and recovery, J. Neurochem. 12: 679–693 (1965).
N. B. Everett, B. Simmons, and E. P. Lasher, Distribution of blood (Fe59) and plasma (I’ 31) volumes of rats determined by liquid nitrogen freezing, Circulation Res. 4: 419–424 (1956).
H. L. Rosomoff, Method for simultaneous quantitative estimation of intracranial contents, J. Appl. Physiol. 16: 395–396 (1961).
R. S. Bourke, E. S. Greenberg, and D. B. Tower, Variation of cerebral cortex fluid spaces in vivo as a function of species brain size, Am. J. Physiol. 208: 682–692 (1965).
I. Gibson and H. Mcllwain, Continuous recording of changes in membrane potential in mammalian cerebral tissues in vitro; recovery after depolarization by added substances, J. Physiol. 176: 261–283 (1965).
A. Van Harreveld, Water and electrolyte distribution in central nervous tissue, Federation Proc. 21: 659–664 (1962).
A. Van Harreveld, J. Crowell, and S. K. Malhotra, A study of extracellular space in central nervous tissue by freeze substitution, J. Cell. Biol. 25: 117–137 (1965).
A. Van Harreveld and S. K. Malhotra, Extracellular space in the cerebral cortex of the mouse, J. Anat. 101:197–207 (1967).
R. G. Cooper and J. W. Archdeacon, Blood and cerebrospinal fluid glucose in the fasting state. Am. J. Physiol. 198: 260–262 (1960).
H. Dayson, A comparative study of the aqueous humour and cerebrospinal fluid in the rabbit, J. Physiol. 129: 111–133 (1955).
P. J. Randle and G. H. Smith, Regulation of glucose uptake by muscle. 2. The effects of insulin, anaerobiosis and cell poisons on the penetration of isolated rat diaphragm by sugars, Biochem. J. 70: 501–508 (1958).
S. E. Kerr and M. Ghantus, The carbohydrate metabolism of brain. III. On the origin of lactic acid, J. Biol. Chem. 117: 217–225 (1937).
C. Bernard, Nouvelles recherches expérimentales sur les phénomes glycogéniques du foie, Comps. Rend. 44: 1325–1331 (1857).
E. Pflüger, Estimation of glycogen, Arch. Ges. Physiol. 93: 163–185 (1902).
S. E. Kerr, The carbohydrate metabolism of brain. I. The determination of glycogen in nerve tissue, J. Biol. Chem. 116: 1–8 (1936).
R. L. Whistler and J. N. BeMiller, Extraction of glycogen with dimethyl sulfoxide, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 98: 120–123 (1962).
E. Bueding and S. A. Orrell, A mild procedure for the isolation of polydispersed glycogen from animal tissues, J. Biol. Chem. 239: 4018–4020 (1964).
S. A. Orrell and E. Bueding, A comparison of products obtained by various procedures used for the extraction of glycogen, J. Biol. Chem. 239: 4021–4026 (1964).
E. E. Goncharova, Some data on the structure of glycogen and polysaccharides of the brain synthesized in vitro by brain enzymes, in Proc. 3rd All-Union Neurochem. Conti Erevan (A. V. Palladin and Ch. Buniatian, eds.), p. 455, Armenian C.C.P., Erevan (1962).
B. I. Khaikina and E. E. Goncharova, Metabolism and chemical structure of glycogen fractions in the brain, in Problems of the Biochemistry of the Nervous System (A. V. Palladin, ed.), pp. 87–95, Pergamon Press, Oxford (1964).
S. H. Carter and W. E. Stone, Effects of convulsants on brain glycogen in the mouse, J. Neurochem. 7: 16–19 (1961).
S. E. Kerr and M. Ghantus, The carbohydrate metabolism of brain. II. The effect of varying the carbohydrate and insulin supply on the glycogen, free sugar and lactic acid in mammalian brain, J. Biol. Chem. 116: 9–20 (1936).
A. W. Merrick, Encephalic glycogen differencesin young and adult rats, J. Physiol. 158: 476–485 (1961).
M. A. Stewart and J. V. Passonneau, Identification of fructose in mammalian nerve, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 17: 536–541 (1964).
L. F. Leloir, Enzymic isomerization and related processes, Advan. Enzymol. 14: 193–218(1953).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1969 Plenum Press
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bachelard, H.S. (1969). Carbohydrates. In: Lajtha, A. (eds) Chemical Architecture of the Nervous System. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7154-4_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7154-4_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-7156-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-7154-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive