Abstract
Methods to assess metabolism are important analytical
tools in neuroscience. The fluorophore nicotinamide
adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is a parameter
of cellular metabolism. NADH fluorescence was
measured using a laserbased fluorescence detector
with spectral and temporal filters. Distribution and intensity
of NADH fluorescence were investigated in
frozen brain sections. In sections containing hippocampus
the intensity of NADH fluorescence was
correlated to brain structures. In order to investigate
the consequences of neurotoxic lesions, 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine
was injected into the dorsal raphe
nucleus 4 to 240 days prior to the measurement.
NADH fluorescence decreased in the affected region
by 50%, indicating that no recovery in metabolic activity
had occurred.