THE EFFECT OF UNCONJUGATED BILIRUBIN ON REGIONAL CEREBELLAR ENERGY-METABOLISM

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 2  (2) , 81-84
Abstract
Many previous studies examined the effects of unconjugated bilirubin on cerebral energy metabolism. The results were equivocal largely because the samples for assay included contiguous less affected tissue. The present study was undertaken to obviate this problem. Kernicteric Gunn rat cerebella were sectioned, freeze dried and Purkinje cell rich layers prepared, as well as adjacent molecular and granular layers. These layers were assayed, along with suitable controls, for glucose, glycogen, ATP and phosphocreatine. ATP and phosphocreatine were decreased in the Purkinje cell rich layer only; molecular and granular layers were unaffected. Glucose and glycogen were increased in all 3 layers. In vivo, bilirubin apparently exerts its toxic effect by uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation.