NMR Investigations of Excitatory and Inhibitory Neurotransmission in Mouse Brain

Anant Bahadur Patel¹, Vivek Tiwari¹, A.L. Susmitha¹, K.S. Varadarajan¹

Knowledge of neurotransmitter metabolism is very important for understanding the pathophysiology of neurological disorders. In the present study we have investigated neuronal TCA cycle and neurotransmitter cycle flux in different brain regions of C57BL6 mouse. Mice were infused with [1,6-¹³C₂]glucose for different time ranging from 7 to 90 min or [2-¹³C]acetate for ~90 min. Brain metabolite levels and ¹³C labeling of amino acids were measured with ¹H-[¹³C]-NMR spectroscopy at 14T NMR spectrometer. The metabolite levels were distinct in different regions of the brain. Glutamatergic rate was higher in cortex while GABAergic was more in cerebellum and olfactory bulb.