In vivo Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of cerebral glycogen metabolism in animals and humans

Metab Brain Dis. 2015 Feb;30(1):255-61. doi: 10.1007/s11011-014-9530-7. Epub 2014 Mar 28.

Abstract

Glycogen serves as an important energy reservoir in the human body. Despite the abundance of glycogen in the liver and skeletal muscles, its concentration in the brain is relatively low, hence its significance has been questioned. A major challenge in studying brain glycogen metabolism has been the lack of availability of non-invasive techniques for quantification of brain glycogen in vivo. Invasive methods for brain glycogen quantification such as post mortem extraction following high energy microwave irradiation are not applicable in the human brain. With the advent of (13)C Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS), it has been possible to measure brain glycogen concentrations and turnover in physiological conditions, as well as under the influence of stressors such as hypoglycemia and visual stimulation. This review presents an overview of the principles of the (13)C MRS methodology and its applications in both animals and humans to further our understanding of glycogen metabolism under normal physiological and pathophysiological conditions such as hypoglycemia unawareness.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Astrocytes / metabolism
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain Chemistry
  • Carbon-13 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
  • Energy Metabolism*
  • Exercise
  • Glycogen / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemia / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / physiology
  • Rats
  • Sleep / physiology
  • Sleep Deprivation / metabolism
  • Species Specificity
  • Stress, Physiological / physiology

Substances

  • Neurotransmitter Agents
  • Glycogen