Evaluation of Effect of Ninjin'yoeito on Regional Brain Glucose Metabolism by 18F-FDG Autoradiography With Insulin Loading in Aged Mice

Introduction: A recent clinical study revealed that Ninjin'yoeito (NYT) may potentially improve cognitive outcome. However, the mechanism by which NYT exerts its effect on elderly patients remains unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Ninjin'yoeito on regional brain glucose metabolism by 18F-FDG autoradiography with insulin loading in aged wild-type mice.Materials and Methods: After 12 weeks of feeding NYT, mice were assigned to the control and insulin-loaded groups and received an intraperitoneal injection of human insulin (2 U/kg body weight) 30 min prior to 18F-FDG injection. Ninety minutes after the injection, brain autoradiography was performed.Results: After insulin loading, the 18F-FDG accumulation showed negative changes in the cortex, striatum, thalamus, and hippocampus in the control group, whereas positive changes were observed in the NYT-treated group.Conclusions: Ninjin'yoeito may potentially reduce insulin resistance in the brain regions in aged mice, thereby preventing age-related brain diseases.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Effect of magnetic seizure therapy on regional brain glucose metabolism in major depression.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.717982697.793510973 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Thomas E Schlaepfer

Keyword(s):

Major Depression ◽

Glucose Metabolism ◽

Brain Glucose ◽

Brain Glucose Metabolism ◽

Magnetic Seizure Therapy ◽

Regional Brain

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Evidence of the Role of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Brain Glucose Metabolism

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12051382 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 1382

Author(s):

Fabien Pifferi ◽

Stephen C. Cunnane ◽

Philippe Guesnet

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Glucose Metabolism ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Brain Function ◽

High Energy ◽

Brain Glucose ◽

Brain Glucose Metabolism ◽

Age Related ◽

The Brain

In mammals, brain function, particularly neuronal activity, has high energy needs. When glucose is supplemented by alternative oxidative substrates under different physiological conditions, these fuels do not fully replace the functions fulfilled by glucose. Thus, it is of major importance that the brain is almost continuously supplied with glucose from the circulation. Numerous studies describe the decrease in brain glucose metabolism during healthy or pathological ageing, but little is known about the mechanisms that cause such impairment. Although it appears difficult to determine the exact role of brain glucose hypometabolism during healthy ageing or during age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, uninterrupted glucose supply to the brain is still of major importance for proper brain function. Interestingly, a body of evidence suggests that dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) might play significant roles in brain glucose regulation. Thus, the goal of the present review is to summarize this evidence and address the role of n-3 PUFAs in brain energy metabolism. Taken together, these data suggest that ensuring an adequate dietary supply of n-3 PUFAs could constitute an essential aspect of a promising strategy to promote optimal brain function during both healthy and pathological ageing.

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