Localization of glucokinase-like immunoreactivity in the rat lower brain stem: for possible location of brain glucose-sensing mechanisms

F Maekawa, Y Toyoda, N Torii, I Miwa… - …, 2000 - academic.oup.com
F Maekawa, Y Toyoda, N Torii, I Miwa, RC Thompson, DL Foster, S Tsukahara
Endocrinology, 2000academic.oup.com
Pancreatic glucokinase (GK) is considered an important element of the glucose-sensing unit
in pancreatic β-cells. It is possible that the brain uses similar glucose-sensing units, and we
employed GK immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy to examine the anatomical
distribution of GK-like immunoreactivities in the rat brain. We found strong GK-like
immunoreactivities in the ependymocytes, endothelial cells, and many serotonergic
neurons. In the ependymocytes, the GK-like immunoreactivity was located in the cytoplasmic …
Abstract
Pancreatic glucokinase (GK) is considered an important element of the glucose-sensing unit in pancreatic β-cells. It is possible that the brain uses similar glucose-sensing units, and we employed GK immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy to examine the anatomical distribution of GK-like immunoreactivities in the rat brain. We found strong GK-like immunoreactivities in the ependymocytes, endothelial cells, and many serotonergic neurons. In the ependymocytes, the GK-like immunoreactivity was located in the cytoplasmic area, but not in the nucleus. The GK-positive ependymocytes were found to have glucose transporter-2 (GLUT2)-like immunoreactivities on the cilia. In addition, the ependymocytes had GLUT1-like immunoreactivity on the cilia and GLUT4-like immunoreactivity densely in the cytoplasmic area and slightly in the plasma membrane. In serotonergic neurons, GK-like immunoreactivity was found in the cytoplasm and their processes. The present results raise the possibility that these GK-like immunopositive cells comprise a part of a vast glucose-sensing mechanism in the brain.
Oxford University Press