Glucose transporter 5 (GLUT5)-like immunoreactivity is localized in subsets of neurons and glia in the rat brain.

This study aimed at examining the distribution of glucose transporter 5 (GLUT5), which preferentially transports fructose, in the rat brain by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Small immunoreactive puncta (less than 0.7μm) were sparsely distributed all over the brain, some of which appeared to be associated with microglial processes detected by an anti-ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1) monoclonal antibody. In addition, some of these immunoreactive puncta seemed to be associated with tanycyte processes that were labeled with anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) monoclonal antibody. Ependymal cells were also found to be immunopositive for GLUT5. Furthermore, several noticeable GLUT5 immunoreactive profiles were observed. GLUT5 immunoreactive neurons, confirmed by double staining with neuronal nuclei (NeuN), were seen in the entopeduncular nucleus and lateral hypothalamus. Cerebellar Purkinje cells were immunopositve for GLUT5. Dense accumulation of immunoreactive puncta, some of which were neuronal elements (confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy), were observed in the optic tract and their terminal fields, namely, superior colliculus, pretectum, nucleus of the optic tract, and medial terminal nucleus of the optic tract. In addition to the associated areas of the visual system, the vestibular and cochlear nuclei also contained dense GLUT5 immunoreactive puncta. Western blot analysis of the cerebellum indicated that the antibody used recognized the 33.5 and 37.0kDa bands that were also contained in jejunum and kidney extracts. Thus, these results suggest that GLUT5 may transport fructose in subsets of the glia and neurons for an energy source of these cells.