Linking neuronal brain activity to the glucose metabolism

Göbel, Britta; Oltmanns, Kerstin M.; Chung, Matthias

Linking neuronal brain activity to the glucose metabolism

dc.contributor.author	Göbel, Britta	en
dc.contributor.author	Oltmanns, Kerstin M.	en
dc.contributor.author	Chung, Matthias	en
dc.contributor.department	Mathematics	en
dc.date.accessioned	2013-11-13T10:39:05Z	en
dc.date.available	2013-11-13T10:39:05Z	en
dc.date.issued	2013-08-29	en
dc.date.updated	2013-11-13T10:39:05Z	en
dc.description.abstract	Background Energy homeostasis ensures the functionality of the entire organism. The human brain as a missing link in the global regulation of the complex whole body energy metabolism is subject to recent investigation. The goal of this study is to gain insight into the influence of neuronal brain activity on cerebral and peripheral energy metabolism. In particular, the tight link between brain energy supply and metabolic responses of the organism is of interest. We aim to identifying regulatory elements of the human brain in the whole body energy homeostasis. Methods First, we introduce a general mathematical model describing the human whole body energy metabolism. It takes into account the two central roles of the brain in terms of energy metabolism. The brain is considered as energy consumer as well as regulatory instance. Secondly, we validate our mathematical model by experimental data. Cerebral high-energy phosphate content and peripheral glucose metabolism are measured in healthy men upon neuronal activation induced by transcranial direct current stimulation versus sham stimulation. By parameter estimation we identify model parameters that provide insight into underlying neurophysiological processes. Identified parameters reveal effects of neuronal activity on regulatory mechanisms of systemic glucose metabolism. Results Our examinations support the view that the brain increases its glucose supply upon neuronal activation. The results indicate that the brain supplies itself with energy according to its needs, and preeminence of cerebral energy supply is reflected. This mechanism ensures balanced cerebral energy homeostasis. Conclusions The hypothesis of the central role of the brain in whole body energy homeostasis as active controller is supported.	en
dc.description.version	Published version	en
dc.format.mimetype	application/pdf	en
dc.identifier.citation	Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling. 2013 Aug 29;10(1):50	en
dc.identifier.doi	https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-4682-10-50	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10919/24070	en
dc.language.iso	en	en
dc.rights	Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International	en
dc.rights.holder	Britta Göbel et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.	en
dc.rights.uri	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/	en
dc.title	Linking neuronal brain activity to the glucose metabolism	en
dc.title.serial	Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling	en
dc.type	Article - Refereed	en
dc.type.dcmitype	Text	en