Table 1.

Radiolabeling (dpm/mg protein) of amino acids from NaH14CO3, [1-14C]pyruvate or [2-14C]pyruvate in primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells and astrocytes

PrecursorSpecific activityAspartateGlutamateGlutamine
NaH14CO33.3 mCi/mmol
 Granule cells1245 ± 2102071 ± 120ND
 Astrocytes82.5 ± 13.0b758 ± 133b748 ± 40b
[1-14C]Pyruvate13 mCi/mmol
 Granule cells6170 ± 515550 ± 50ND
 Astrocytes480 ± 136b1261 ± 339778 ± 149b
[2-14C]Pyruvate17.5 mCi/mmol
 Granule cells23,000 ± 1960176,630 ± 24705200 ± 1882
 Astrocytes4608 ± 1138b32,896 ± 4223b17,278 ± 26611-a
  • Primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells and astrocytes were incubated with NaH14CO3, [1-14C]pyruvate, or [2-14C]pyruvate for 60 min. Radiolabeling of intracellular amino acids was determined. Values are dpm/mg protein. Mean ± SEM of four or five experiments. NaHCO3 was 25 mm, and K+ was 4 mM in all experiments. ND, Not detectable.

  • F1-a p = 0.01;bp < 0.005, Student's t test; significantly different from corresponding value in granule cells.