GLUCOSE-SUPPORTED OXIDATIVE-METABOLISM AND EVOKED-POTENTIALS ARE SENSITIVE TO FLUOROACETATE, AN INHIBITOR OF GLIAL TRICARBOXYLIC-ACID CYCLE IN THE OLFACTORY CORTEX SLICE

Optical absorbance change was measured by reflectance spectrophotometry in the olfactory cortex slice prepared from the rat brain. Optical absorbance of the piriform area of the slice was increased by perifusion with an anoxic (N2-gassed) solution. Components of the absorbance spectrum recorded from the slice in anoxia corresponded to that of cytochromes (cyt) aa3 and c + c1, but did not to that of cyt c. Reduction of cytochromes in anoxia coincided with decrease in the amplitude of the presynaptic potential and a slower negative wave (N-wave). The reduced state of cytochromes switched to an oxidized state when a well-oxygenated solution was reintroduced. An almost complete recovery of redox state coincided with full recovery of the evoked potential. A metabolic inhibitor, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) (10mM) or iodoacetic acid (IAA) (3 mM) caused little or slight oxidation of cytochromes, but significantly decreased the amplitude of evoked potentials. Marked oxidation of cytochromes was observed only by perifusion with a solution containing 2 DG (10 mM) and IAA (3 mM). The rate of oxygen uptake was significantly lowered by these metabolic inhibitors. When the slice was perifused with a solution containing fluoracetate (1 or 10 mM), a selective inhibitor of glial metabolism, cytochromes shifted to oxidized levels. The amplitude of evoked potentials tended to decline by a low dose (1 mM), and significantly decreased by a high dose (10 mM) of fluoroacetate. Oxygen consumption of the slice was dose-relatedly lowered by fluoroacetate. These results indicate (1) that the mitochondrial redox state becomes reduced in anoxia and the evoked potential is concomitantly suppressed, (2) that metabolic and neuronal activities are primarily supported by glucose supply, and (3) that reducing equivalents into the respiratory chain are derived from metabolic activities, which are linked to glucose metabolism, in glia as well as in neurons of the olfactory cortex slice.