Regulation of glucose at the biochemical level affects every area of the brain, and has impact from cellular to behavioral brain function. It plays an important role in diseases such as diabetes, stroke, schizophrenia and drug abuse as well as in normal and dysfunctional memory and cognition. This volume represents a thorough examination of all the major issues that are relevant to glucose metabolism by brain cells in relation to disease, combining basic research and clinical findings in a single, indispensable reference. Serves as an essential reference on glucose metabolism in the brain Presents authoritative accounts by leading researchers in the field Includes thorough reviews with provocative sections on future directions
An essential reference for any laboratory working in the analytical fluorescence glucose sensing field. The increasing importance of these techniques is typified in one emerging area by developing non-invasive and continuous approaches for physiological glucose monitoring. This volume incorporates analytical fluorescence-based glucose sensing reviews, specialized enough to be attractive to professional researchers, yet appealing to a wider audience of scientists in related disciplines of fluorescence.
Brain Energy Metabolism addresses its challenging subject by presenting diverse technologies allowing for the investigation of brain energy metabolism on different levels of complexity. Model systems are discussed, starting from the reductionist approach like primary cell cultures which allow assessing of the properties and functions of a single brain cell type with many different types of analysis, however, at the expense of neglecting the interaction between cell types in the brain. On the other end, analysis in animals and humans in vivo is discussed, maintaining the full complexity of the tissue and the organism but making high demands on the methods of analysis. Written for the popular Neuromethods series, chapters include the kind of detailed description and key implementation advice that aims to support reproducible results in the lab. Meticulous and authoritative, Brain Energy Metabolism provides an ideal guide for researchers interested in brain energy metabolism with the hope of stimulating more research in this exciting and very important field.
Synthesizing the breadth of current knowledge on brain behavior relationships in atypically developing children, this important volume integrates theories and data from multiple disciplines. Leading authorities present their latest research on specific clinical problems, including autism, Williams syndrome, learning and language disabilities, ADHD, and issues facing infants of diabetic mothers. In addition, the effects of social stress and maltreatment on brain development and behavior are thoroughly reviewed. Demonstrating the uses of cuttingedge methods from developmental neuroscience, developmental psychology, and cognitive science, the contributors emphasize the implications of their findings for real-world educational and clinical practices.
Fundamental biochemical studies of basic brain metabolism focusing on the neuroactive amino acids glutamate and GABA combined with the seminal observation that one of the key enzymes, glutamine synthetase is localized in astroglial cells but not in neurons resulted in the formulation of the term “The Glutamate-Glutamine Cycle.” In this cycle glutamate released from neurons is taken up by surrounding astrocytes, amidated by the action of glutamine synthetase to glutamine which can be transferred back to the neurons. The conversion of glutamate to glutamine is like a stealth technology, hiding the glutamate molecule which would be highly toxic to neurons due to its excitotoxic action. This series of reactions require the concerted and precise interaction of a number of enzymes and plasma membrane transporters, and this volume provides in-depth descriptions of these processes. Obviously such a series of complicated reactions may well be prone to malfunction and therefore neurological diseases are likely to be associated with such malfunction of the enzymes and transporters involved in the cycle. These aspects are also discussed in several chapters of the book. A number of leading experts in neuroscience including intermediary metabolism, enzymology and transporter physiology have contributed to this book which provides comprehensive discussions of these different aspects of the functional importance of the glutamate-glutamine cycle coupling homeostasis of glutamatergic, excitatory neurotransmission to basic aspects of brain energy metabolism. This book will be of particular importance for students as well as professionals interested in these fundamental processes involved in brain function and dysfunction.
Impairment of energy metabolism is a hallmark of brain aging and several neurodegenerative diseases, such as the Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Age- and disease-related hypometabolism is commonly associated with oxidative stress and they are both regarded as major contributors to the decline in synaptic plasticity and cognition. Neuroinflammatory changes, entailing microglial activation and elevated expression of inflammatory cytokines, also correlate with age-related cognitive decline. It is still under debate whether the mitochondrial dysfunction-induced metabolic deficits or the microglia activation-mediated neuroinflammation is the initiator of the cognitive changes in aging and AD. Nevertheless, multiple lines of evidence support the notion that mitochondrial dysfunction and chronic inflammation exacerbate each other, and these mechanistic diversities have cellular redox dysregulation as a common denominator. This research topic focuses on the role of a metabolic-inflammatory axis encompassing the bioenergetic activity, brain inflammatory responses and their redox regulation in healthy brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Dynamic interactions among these systems are reviewed in terms of their causative or in-tandem occurrence and how the systemic environment, –e.g., insulin resistance, diabetes, and systemic inflammation–, impacts on brain function.
From the preface: “Neural Metabolism In Vivo aims to provide a comprehensive overview of neurobiology by presenting the basic principles of up-to-date and cutting-edge technology, as well as their application in assessing the functional, morphological and metabolic aspects of the brain. Investigation of neural activity of the living brain via neurovascular coupling using multimodal imaging techniques extended our understanding of fundamental neurophysiological mechanisms, regulation of cerebral blood flow in connection to neural activity and the interplay between neurons, astrocytes and blood vessels. Constant delivery of glucose and oxygen for energy metabolism is vital for brain function, and the physiological basis of neural activity can be assessed through measurements of cerebral blood flow and consumption of glucose and oxygen.... This book presents the complex physiological and neurochemical processes of neural metabolism and function in response to various physiological conditions and pharmacological stimulations. Neurochemical detection technologies and quantitative aspects of monitoring cerebral energy substrates and other metabolites in the living brain are described under the “Cerebral metabolism of antioxidants, osmolytes and others in vivo” section. Altogether, the advent of new in vivo tools has transformed neuroscience and neurobiology research, and demands interdisciplinary approaches as each technology could only approximate a very small fraction of the true complexity of the underlying biological processes. However, translational values of the emerging in vivo methods to the application of preclinical to clinical studies cannot be emphasized enough. Thus, it is our hope that advances in our understanding of biochemical, molecular, functional and physiological processes of the brain could eventually help people with neurological problems, which are still dominated by the unknowns.” -- In-Young Choi and Rolf Gruetter
Over the last quarter century or so, specialization within obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics has resulted in the development of the disciplines of maternal-fetal medicine and neonatology, respectively. A primary focus of maternal-fetal medicine has been to understand the mechanism(s) of premature delivery and develop treatment modalities for improving the length of gestation. A primary focus of neonatology has been to under stand the causes of respiratory distress in the neonate. Success has resulted, not only in the lengthening of gestation, but an improved understanding of the causes and treatment of neonatal respiratory disease. With increasing success has come the necessity to under stand the metabolic principles of the parturient, the fetal/placenta unit, and the neonate. These principles are clearly very important from multiple aspects. Increased understand ing of metabolism of the pregnant woman would explain the aberrations occurring in normal and abnormal pregnancy and improve nutritional support for the parturient. A prime example of altered metabolism is the parturient with diabetes. Understanding metabolism ofthe fetal/placenta unit is necessary to increase the probability that the fetus will be born appropriate for size irrespective of the gestational age. The various compo nents of neonatal metabolism are important, not only for understanding the changes in physiology and biochemistry occurring in the developing neonate, but the principles by which nutritional support should be provided.
Examines the subject of neuroimaging of the human brain. This volume is divided into four sections: imaging of structural development; imaging of perceptual and cognitive development; imaging of abnormal development; and imaging of brain-behaviour relationships.
