Regional Metabolism During Healthy Aging in Mice Brain: A H-[C]-NMR Study

Introduction: Normal aging is associated with a decline in brain function and is a major risk factor for many neurodegenerative diseases. The brain mitochondrial function has been shown to be altered with healthy aging. Despite key role of neurotransmitter in brain function, brain energy metabolism has not been explored during healthy aging. As glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmitter energetics is supported by brain oxidative glucose metabolism, normal aging will lead to impairment in glutamate and GABA neurotransmitters pathway. In this study, we have investigated energy metabolism associated with glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum of young adult and aged C57BL6 mice by using H-[C]-NMR spectroscopy together with infusion of C labeled glucose and acetate.