Abstract
A new kinetic analysis of blood-brain glucose transport is described, based on a steady-state model that takes account of cerebral blood flow, mean capillary glucose concentration and cerebral metabolic rate. The maximal rate (Tmax) and half-saturation constant (Km) of glucose transport from blood to brain were determined in rats by measuring the rate of blood-to-brain glucose transfer at different blood glucose concentrations. Each determination lasted 20 s. For whole-brain, Tmax and Km averaged 258 .+-. 33 (SE) .mu.mol/(100 g) per min and 5.9 .+-. 1.6 (SE) mmol/l, respectively. The regional variations were insignificant. The new approach permits kinetic parameters to be measured locally in brain in rapidly changing functional states.

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