Differential effects of adrenocorticotropin(1–24) on [ 3H]2-deoxy- d-glucose uptake in cultured cells derived from different brain regions

Abstract

The effect of adrenocorticotropin(1–24) (ACTH(1–24)) on the uptake of [ 3H]2-deoxy- d-glucose ([ 3H]2-DG) was compared in cell cultures derived from two regions (hypothalamus, and extrahypothalamic forebrain) of fetal rat brain. Under control conditions, [ 3H]2-DG uptake was similar in extrahypothalamic ( 10.9 ± 1.1 nmol mg protein5 min ) and hypothalamic (11.9 ± 1.3) cells. No significant effect of ACTH (1–24) (10 −7 to 10 −5 M) was found on uptake of [ 3H]2-DG in extrahypothalamic cells. In contrast, in hypothalamic cells, a potent stimulatory effect ( P < 0.0001) up to 174% over the control value of [ 3H]2-DG uptake was produced by these concentrations of ACTH(1–24). This study suggests that ACTH may be a stimulator of brain glucose uptake, and that this effect varies in different brain regions.