Regional quantitative determination of brain glucose in tissue sections: a bioluminescent approach.

A bioluminescent technique is described for the regional quantitative determination of brain glucose. A close linear interrelationship was obtained between the optical density of the bioluminescent images and the glucose content in tissue samples. The regression coefficients of this correlation permit the quantification of glucose bioluminescent pictures using an image-processing system. Regional distribution of glucose was correlated to regional tissue pH under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions.