Cortical spreading depression during streptozotocin-induced hyperglycaemia in nutritionally normal and early-malnourished rats

Cortical spreading depression (SD) was investigated in adult rats during Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycaemia (group S; n = 13). SD velocities of propagation were significantly lower than in the controls injected only with vehicle solution (group V; n = 17). In contrast, rats rendered hypoglycaemic by food restriction + insulin for 3 days (group HG; n = 9) presented SD velocities significantly higher than controls; this effect was reversed by injecting glucose during the recording session. SD velocity in early-malnourished rats was not different during STZ-hyperglycaemia (group MS; n = 8) compared with previously-malnourished rats injected with vehicle (group MV; n = 9). The data indicate an inverse relationship between glycaemia changes and SD propagation in well-nourished rats. Early malnutrition seems to abolish the effect of STZ-hyperglycaemia on SD. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.