Striatal energetic homeostasis under anaesthetic conditions

The effects of anesthetics on central energetic metabolism remain poorly documented. In this study, the authors have investigated changes in energetic metabolism in the rat striatum following the systemic administration of either pentobarbital or ketamine. Changes in subcortical energetic homeostasis were compared to those in peripheral adipocyte tissue and correlated to both EEG and vital parameters (heart period, respiratory period, body temperature, glycemia). Pentobarbital induced a decrease in glucose utilisation in the striatum and peripheral tissue. Both EEG activities and vital functions were drastically affected by this treatment. Interestingly, energetics were depleted in the peripheral adipose tissue but not in the striatum. Ketamine, which increased low frequencies in EEG activities and sustained vital functions, increased glucose utilisation in the striatum. Our data, obtained in vivo, established that striatal changes in energetics following anaesthesia are drug-specific and rely on tissue-specific mechanisms. In the subcortical nucleus, energetic response to anaesthetics appears to be affected by changes in both cortical activities and autonomic status. In regard to the peri-operative treatments administrated to patients, our study stresses the importance of the choice of drug anaesthetics in order to avoid adverse effects on brain energetic homeostasis.