Abstract #0951

Lai J, Chowdhury G, Patel A, Rothman D, Behar K

In the present study we investigated neurotransmitter metabolism in nerve terminals and compared them with the values in cortical tissue. Halothane anesthetized rats were infused with either [1,6-13C2]glucose or [2-13C]acetate for different times. 13C Enrichments of metabolites were measured in isolated nerve terminals and cortical extracts using 1H-[13C]-NMR spectroscopy. Nerve terminal 13C enrichments from [1,6-13C2]glucose were lower than for cortex but higher during infusion of [2-13C]acetate indicating substantial dilution from glial glutamine. The turnover rate of the nerve terminal pool of neurotransmitters glutamate and GABA appears to be similar to tissue rates assessed in vivo by NMR.