Energy metabolism in kaolin-induced hydrocephalic rat brain. Assessed by phosphorus (31P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy and the diversity of lactate-dehydrogenase and its isoenzyme patterns.

Energy metabolism in kaolin-induced hydrocephalic rat brain was assessed by means of 31-phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy and measurement of the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as its isoenzyme patterns. Decreases in beta-adenosine triphosphate and phosphocreatine were observed in hydrocephalic rat brains. While the intracellular pH was decreased at 2 to 4 weeks, it showed some recovery 6 weeks after injection of kaolin. The activity of LDH increased in the hydrocephalic state, and its isoenzyme-pattern changes were as follows: the LDH5 fraction was predominant in 1-week to 4-week rats while the LDH4 fraction was predominant in 4-week rat brains, and at 6-weeks, the LDH4 and LDH5 fractions were decreased. These data from rat brains with kaolin-induced hydrocephalus indicate that anaerobic glycolysis is the primary pathway of energy metabolism in the acute hydrocephalic state, while in the chronic state the emphasis shifts to aerobic glycolysis.