Hepatic Ketogenesis Induced by Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Mice

BackgroundKetone bodies are known to substitute for glucose as brain fuel when glucose availability is low. Ketogenic diets have been described as neuroprotective. Similar data have been reported for triheptanoin, a fatty oil and anaplerotic compound. In this study, we monitored the changes of energy metabolites in liver, blood, and brain after transient brain ischemia to test for ketone body formation induced by experimental stroke. Methods and ResultsMice were fed a standard carbohydrate‐rich diet or 2 fat‐rich diets, 1 enriched in triheptanoin and 1 in soybean oil. Stroke was induced in mice by middle cerebral artery occlusion for 90 minutes, followed by reperfusion. Mice were sacrificed, and blood plasma and liver and brain homogenates were obtained. In 1 experiment, microdialysis was performed. Metabolites (eg glucose, β‐hydroxybutyrate, citrate, succinate) were determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. After 90 minutes of brain ischemia, β‐hydroxybutyrate levels were dramatically increased...