Role of glutamate in thymic energy metabolism

Abstract

Objective. To analyze the energetic role of glutamate in thymocytes and tissues of the thymus at different stages of its age-related involution.Materials and methods. The studies were performed on white male rats. The state of energy metabolism was determined by the rate of oxygen consumption by thymus tissues and thymocytes using a polarographic method.Results. It was found that in the thymus tissues of 4, 5 and 6-month-old rats the rate of oxygen consumption is constant and does not significantly change in response to glutamate administration. Thymocytes - the immunocompetent thymus cells of 3- and 8-month-old animals, despite similar levels of oxygen consumption on endogenous substrates, respond differently to glutamate action. In thymocytes of 3-month-old animals, the action of glutamate has a more pronounced stimulating effect on bioenergetic processes compared to 8-month-old animals. There is a reason to believe that the decrease in the efficiency of glutamate action as the animals grow older is caused by the processes of age-related involution of the thymusConclusion. Glutamate stimulates aerobic respiration in the thymocytes of 3- and 8-month-old animals, with a greater stimulating effect in the thymocytes of younger animals. At the same time, glutamate does not cause significant changes in the rate of oxygen consumption in the thymus tissues of 4-, 5-, and 6-month-old animals.