Although in recent years the functional brain imaging based on 18F-deoxyglucose DG Positron Emission Tomography (18FDG PET) has experienced enormous advances, the cellular and molecular mechanisms generating the signals detected by these techniques are not completely known. In this paper, we present a computational model that attempts to disentangle the intricate nature of the molecular interactions governing the brain energy metabolism. The model describes the glutamate-stimulated glucose uptake and use into astrocytes. In particular our study provides a quantitative modeling of the consequences of the astrocytic generation ofintercellular Na+ and Ca+ waves on the glucose metabolism. As far aswe know a mathematical computational model of the brain energy metabolism atmolecular level has been never proposed. The authors developed a firstsimplified model not including sodium and calcium waves in [4]. Thesignificance of the current extended model to the PET brain imaging consistsin supporting medical image understanding at cellular and molecular detail.Moreover the model acts as a more comprehensive in silico frameworkin which to experiment the glucose metabolism and elucidate its largelyunknown aspects.
A model of the Ca2+ and Na+ waves kinetics in astrocytes and its relevance to functional brain imaging
Lecca, Michela
2008-01-01
Abstract
Although in recent years the functional brain imaging based on 18F-deoxyglucose DG Positron Emission Tomography (18FDG PET) has experienced enormous advances, the cellular and molecular mechanisms generating the signals detected by these techniques are not completely known. In this paper, we present a computational model that attempts to disentangle the intricate nature of the molecular interactions governing the brain energy metabolism. The model describes the glutamate-stimulated glucose uptake and use into astrocytes. In particular our study provides a quantitative modeling of the consequences of the astrocytic generation ofintercellular Na+ and Ca+ waves on the glucose metabolism. As far aswe know a mathematical computational model of the brain energy metabolism atmolecular level has been never proposed. The authors developed a firstsimplified model not including sodium and calcium waves in [4]. Thesignificance of the current extended model to the PET brain imaging consistsin supporting medical image understanding at cellular and molecular detail.Moreover the model acts as a more comprehensive in silico frameworkin which to experiment the glucose metabolism and elucidate its largelyunknown aspects.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
