Low Glucose Enhances Na + /Glucose Transport in Bovine Brain Artery Endothelial Cells

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Abstract
Background and Purpose—Brain arteries are structurally characterized by the tight junctions of the endothelium and by no vasa vasorum that feed arteries themselves. This raises the question of how brain arteries are provided with glucose. A possible explanation is that glucose uptake into arteries may be mediated by both GLUT1, a facilitative glucose transporter, and a Na+/glucose cotransporter (SGLT)-like glucose transporter. The functional role for the SGLT-like glucose transporter, however, is unknown. In the present study we investigated SGLT-like glucose transporter–operated glucose uptake into brain arterial endothelial cells by recording glucose-evoked Na+ currents and monitoring uptake of [3H]-2-deoxy-d-glucose ([3H]-2-DOG). Methods—Endothelial cells were cultured from bovine cerebral cortical arteries. Whole-cell patches were made to cells, and glucose-evoked currents were recorded. Cells were incubated with [3H]-2-DOG, and the uptake was determined by a liquid scintillation counter. Results—Gluc...