Relative levels of hexokinase in isolated neuronal, astrocytic, and oligodendroglial fractions from rat brain.

The levels of hexokinase, as well as those of the cytoplasmic glycolytic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase and the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes fumarase and citrate synthase, have been determined in whole rat brain and in neuronal, astrocytic, and oligodendroglial fractions isolated from rat brain. Compared with either whole brain or with isolated neurons or astrocytes, oligodendroglia are low in hexokinase content. This provides direct confirmation for the conclusion, based on an electron microscopic immunohistochemical method, that oligodendroglia, compared with other neural structures, contain relatively low levels of this key enzyme of glucose metabolism. Based on this confirmation, it is concluded that the electron-microscopic immunohistochemical procedure provides a valid indication of hexokinase content, and thus that other structures shown to stain weakly by the latter technique (e.g., dendritic terminals of cerebellar granule and Purkinje cells) are, indeed, low in hexokinase activity.