Effects of hypoxia-ischemia on GLUT1 and GLUT3 glucose transporters in immature rat brain

Cerebral hypoxia-ischemia produces major alterations in energy metabolism and glucose utilization in brain. The facilitative glucose transporter proteins mediate the transport of glucose across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) (55 kDa GLUT1) and into the neurons and glia (GLUT3 and 45 kDa GLUT1). Glucose uptake and utilization are low in the immature rat brain, as are the levels of the glucose transporter proteins. This study investigated the effect of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia in a model of unilateral brain damage on the expression of GLUT1 and GLUT3 in the ipsilateral (damaged, hypoxic-ischemic) and contralateral (undamaged, hypoxic) hemispheres of perinatal rat brain. Early in the recovery period, both hemispheres exhibited increased expression of BBB GLUT1 and GLUT3, consistent with increased glucose transport and utilization. Further into recovery, BBB GLUT1 increased and neuronal GLUT3 decreased in the damaged hemisphere only, commensurate with neuronal loss.