GFAP expression levels are associated with brain glucose metabolism in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease

Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) is an intermediate filament expressed almost exclusively in astrocytes, and it is usually overexpressed in reactive astrocytes. We have previously shown that astrocytes play a critical role in brain energy metabolism and are significant contributors to the [18F]FDG‐PET signal. The cortex is majorly composed of glial cells, whereas the cerebellum is predominantly composed of neurons. In light of this, whether GFAP levels in the brain tissue are associated with [18F]FDG‐PET signal remains unknown. Thus, we aimed to investigate the associations between cortical and cerebellar GFAP levels with brain glucose metabolism in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease.