Fructose supplementation shifts rat brain metabolism in experimental migraine

Brain Res Bull. 2023 Aug:200:110694. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110694. Epub 2023 Jun 21.

Abstract

Aims: We have previously demonstrated that fructose supplementation (FS), given in a scheme used for inducing metabolic syndrome (MS), elicited pain relief in the nitroglycerin (NTG)-elicited rat migraine model. Herein, we evaluated whether FS could reestablish the impaired metabolic pathways in NTG-injected rats.

Main methods: Male Wistar rats (N = 40) were divided into two groups for receiving 10 % FS or tap water. After 45 days, they were subdivided into NTG-injected (10 mg/kg; 15 days) or controls. After the fourth NTG injection, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F] FDG) micro-PET scanning was accomplished. The day after, euthanasia was performed, and blood was collected for glycemia and LDH analysis. The levels of energy molecules, TBARS, PGC-1α, and MCTS1 were evaluated in the brain cortices. The activated satellite glial cells (SGC) were assessed in the trigeminal ganglion (TG).

Key findings: There were no variations of glycemia or LDH serum levels. NTG-injected rats showed a significant increase in glucose uptake in the hypothalamus (HT) vs. NTG-free rats. The FS-NTG group showed increased metabolism in the superior colliculus (SC) vs. the NTG group. Moreover, the glucose uptake was amplified in the inferior colliculus (IC) of the FS-NTG vs. FS group. The cortical inosine levels were significantly higher in FS-NTG rats vs. NTG or FS groups, with no changes in TBARS or MCTS1 levels, despite a minor decrease of PGC1-α contents in the FS+NTG group. Finally, there was a significant increase of activated SGC around TG in the FS-NTG rats.

Significance: We provide novel evidence linking nutrition and metabolism with migraine.

Keywords: ATP metabolism; Fructose supplementation (FS); Migraine; Mitochondria; Rat; Satellite glial cells (SGC).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fructose* / pharmacology
  • Glucose
  • Male
  • Migraine Disorders* / chemically induced
  • Nitroglycerin / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances

Substances

  • Fructose
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
  • Nitroglycerin
  • Glucose