Conference Presentation (After Call)

FZJ-2024-04013

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Avian neurons consume three times less glucose compared to mammals

Von Eugen, K. (Corresponding author) ; Endepols, H.FZJ* ; Drzezga, A.FZJ* ; Neumaier, B.FZJ* ; Güntürkün, O. ; Backes, H. ; Ströckens, F.

2022

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1055/s-0042-1746135

Abstract: Ziel/Aim Brains are some of the most energetically costly tissues of the mammalianbody. This is predominantly caused by expensive neurons with highglucose demands. Across mammals, there appears to be a fixed neuronal energybudget and it is thought this posed an evolutionary constraint on braingrowth. Recently it was found birds have higher numbers of neurons comparedto similarly sized mammals. We set out to determine the neuronal energy budgetof birds to elucidate how they can metabolically support such high numbersof neurons.Methodik/Methods We estimated glucose metabolism with positron emissiontomography (PET) and 2-F-18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) as radiotracerin awake and anesthetized pigeons. Combined with kinetic modelling, this allowsto quantify the exact cerebral metabolic rate of glucose consumption(CMRglc).Ergebnisse/Results We found that neural tissue in the pigeon consumes27.29 ± 1.57 μmol glucose per 100 g per min in awake state and 23.15 ± 4.77μmol glucose per 100 g per min in anesthetized state. For the awake pigeon,this translates into a surprisingly low neuronal energy budget of 1.86 x 10-9 ± 0.2x 10-9 μmol glucose per neuron per minute, being approximately 3 times lowercompared to the average mammalian neuron.Schlussfolgerungen/Conclusions The low neuronal energy budget explainshow pigeons, and possibly other avian species, can support such high numbersof neurons without the associated metabolic costs nor compromising on neuronalsignalling. The advantage in neuronal processing of information at ahigher efficiency possibly emerged within the distinct evolution of the avianbrain.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Nuklearchemie (INM-5)
2. Molekulare Organisation des Gehirns (INM-2)

Research Program(s):

1. 5253 - Neuroimaging (POF4-525) (POF4-525)

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