18F-FDG-PET imaging of rat spinal cord demonstrates altered glucose uptake acutely after contusion injury. (16th May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: von Leden, Ramona E.; Selwyn, Reed G.; Jaiswal, Shalini; Wilson, Colin M.; Khayrullina, Guzal; Byrnes, Kimberly R.
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience letters. Volume 621(2016)
• Page Start: 126
• Page End: 132
• Publication Date: 2016-05-16
• Subjects: FDG fluorodeoxyglucose -- PET positron emission tomography -- CT computerized axial tomography -- ROI region of interest -- SCI spinal cord injury -- DPI days post injury; Glucose uptake -- Spinal cord injury -- Positron emission tomography -- Rat; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Neuroanatomie -- Périodiques; Neuropharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.48
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.04.027
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3940

Abstract

Highlights: 18 F-FDG PET imaging of glucose uptake in the rodent spinal cord can be used as a novel non-invasive biomarker for spinal cord injury. Quantification of 18 F FDG uptake in the injured rodent spinal cord reveals depressed glucose uptake acutely at 6 h post contusion injury. Quantification of 18 F FDG uptake in the injured rodent spinal cord reveals an increase in glucose uptake sub-acutely at 15 days post contusion injury. Analysis of spinal cord injured rats reveals decreased locomotor performance and increases in immunohistochemical marker of microglia Iba-1 at 15 days post injury. Acute and sub-acute uptake may be indicative of cellular and functional changes in the spinal cord. Abstract: Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in an acute reduction in neuronal and glial cell viability, disruption in axonal tract integrity, and prolonged increases in glial activity and inflammation, all of which can influence regional metabolism and glucose utilization. To date, the understanding of glucose uptake and utilization in the injured spinal cord is limited. Positron emission tomography (PET)-based measurements of glucose uptake may therefore serve as a novel biomarker for SCI. This study aimed to determine the acute and sub-acute glucose uptake pattern after SCI to determine its potential as a novel non-invasive tool for injury assessment and to begin to understand the glucose uptake pattern following acute SCI. Briefly, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to moderate contusion SCI, confirmed by locomotor function and histology. PET imaging with [ 18 F] Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) was performed prior to injury and at 6 and 24 h and 15 days post-injury (dpi). FDG-PET imaging revealed significantly depressed glucose uptake at 6 h post-injury at the lesion epicenter that returned to sham/naïve levels at 24 h and 15 dpi after moderate injury. FDG uptake at 15 dpi was likely influenced by a combination of elevated glial presence and reduced neuronal viability. These results show that moderate SCI results in acute depression in glucose uptake followed by an increase in glucose uptake that may be related to neuroinflammation. This acute and sub-acute uptake, which is dependent on cellular responses, may represent a therapeutic target.