Evidence for uncoupling of oxygen and glucose utilization during neuronal activation in rat striatum

1. Changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), tissue oxygen and extracellular glucose were measured during neuronal activation, using implanted electrodes in the striatum of freely moving rats. 2. There was a parallel increase in rCBF and oxygen in response to neuronal activation. 3. During the neuronal activation there was a decrease in extracellular glucose; following neuronal activation there was a slow rise in extracellular glucose which took 30 min to return to basal levels. 4. The implications of the different time courses of these changes are discussed.