Lactate transport and metabolism in the human brain: implications for the astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle hypothesis

CR Figley - Journal of Neuroscience, 2011 - Soc Neuroscience
Journal of Neuroscience, 2011Soc Neuroscience
Lactate is the metabolic byproduct of glycolysis, a process that, despite being less efficient
than the complete oxidation of glucose to carbon dioxide and water, occurs throughout the
brain. Glycolytic metabolism increases dramatically in response to ischemic events, but even
during periods of sufficient oxygen availability, so-called “aerobic glycolysis” may account for
as much as 10–12% of glucose metabolism in the adult human brain (Vaishnavi et al.,
2010). Moreover, in addition to resting-state glycolysis and baseline lactate production, brain …
Lactate is the metabolic byproduct of glycolysis, a process that, despite being less efficient than the complete oxidation of glucose to carbon dioxide and water, occurs throughout the brain. Glycolytic metabolism increases dramatically in response to ischemic events, but even during periods of sufficient oxygen availability, so-called “aerobic glycolysis” may account for as much as 10–12% of glucose metabolism in the adult human brain (Vaishnavi et al., 2010). Moreover, in addition to resting-state glycolysis and baseline lactate production, brain activity has been shown to significantly increase local lactate concentrations (for review, see Mangia et al., 2009).
It is thought that glycolysis is invoked to quickly, albeit inefficiently, provide energy; and because lactate has been implicated in the regulation of cerebral microcirculation (causing arteriole dilation), glycolytic increases might also play important roles in redirecting blood flow to oxygen-deprived brain regions during acute trauma and regulating cerebral blood flow
Soc Neuroscience