Figure 1. Astrocytic glutamate transport activation via GLT-1 triggers cerebral [¹⁸F]FDG uptake.

(a) Study design: rats received a tail vein injection of saline or CEF (200 mg/kg) 70 minutes before the scan. Thirty minutes later they received an [¹⁸F]FDG tail vein injection and were allowed to freely move in their cages (awake) during a 40 minutes uptake phase. After that period, a static scan of 10 minutes was acquired. (b) Whole brain [¹⁸F]FDG uptake. (c) Statistical parametric images (t-statistical map (CEF challenge > baseline) overlaid on a histological template. (d) Brain mask showing volume of interest (VOIs) overlaid on a histological template. Regional [¹⁸F]FDG uptake in the prefrontal (e) and temporo-parietal cortices (f), hippocampus (g), striatum (h), thalamus (i) and cerebellum (j). Regional percentage of change in VOIs (challenge > baseline, k). n = 10 rats per group. *p < 0.05, and **p < 0.01. Two tailed paired t-test. Data are presented as mean values ± s.d. and individual scatter plots. Note that each region has a correspondent scatter plot color, which follows regions defined in the VOIs mask; prefrontal cortex (red), temporo-parietal cortex (green), hippocampus (dark-purple), striatum (light-green), thalamus (light-purple) and cerebellum (yellow).