Increases and decreases in local cerebral glucose utilization in response to GABA agonists

The effects of systemic administration of muscimol and THIP on local cerebral glucose (LCGU) were examined in unanesthetized rats. LCGU was calculated by the [14C]2-deoxy-D-glucose procedure of Sokoloff et al. GABA agonists produced dose-dependent decreases in LCGU of most brain regions assayed. Some regions showed no effects, whereas the red nucleus showed an increase. The pattern of LCGU response to GABA agonists did not reflect the known distribution of GABA receptors in the rat brain.