Observation of whole body metabolic change during running using PET to study neuro-muscular interaction

Author: Tashiro M 1,5//Itoh M 1//Fujimoto T 2//Fujiwara T 1////
Affiliation: Div. of Nuclear Medicine, Cyclotron Radioisotope Center, Tohoku Univ. (Sendai, Japan) [1]//Dept. of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Tohoku Univ. (Sendai, Japan) [2]//Div. of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (Sendai, Japan) [3]//College of Care and Science, Tohoku Univ. (Sendai, Japan) [4]//Dept. of Geriatric Medicine, Tohoku Univ. (Sendai, Japan) [5]
Conference/Journal: J Intl Soc Life Info Science
Date published: 1998
Other: Volume ID: 16 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 161-165 , Word Count: 152


Three-dimensional positron emission tomography (3D-PET) using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) can be a powerful tool to map both cerebral and muscular metabolism during running. The aim of this study is to clarify the brain regions which are activated during field running. Whole body PET images of runners were analyzed by defining regions of interest (ROI) on these PET images. The total radioactivity distribution(TRD) was calculated for the bilateral foot-base muscles, the legs and the thighs. Brain images were analyzed using a software package, Statistical Parametrical Mapping(SPM96) to clarify the areas of positive correlation with the amount of muscle activity. Statistical analysis revealed marked activation in the higher cortical structure such as the parieto-temporo-occipital association cortex, the frontal eye field, and limbic structure such as the parahippocampal gyrus, amygdala, orbitofrontal and medial frontal cortex, etc. Emotional and immunological changes due to exercise might be explained by these changes in the limbic system. Keywords: