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Energy on demand: a mechanism for astrocyte–neuron metabolic coupling
Author(s) -
Magistretti P. J.,
Pellerin L.,
Chatton J.Y.,
Pierre K.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.85.s2.2_1.x
Subject(s) - astrocyte , glutamate receptor , neuroscience , premovement neuronal activity , homeostasis , neuron , energy metabolism , energy homeostasis , glucose uptake , coupling (piping) , mechanism (biology) , sodium , biology , in vivo , biophysics , chemistry , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , central nervous system , endocrinology , insulin , mechanical engineering , receptor , organic chemistry , engineering , philosophy , epistemology
A tight link exists between neuronal activity and energy metabolism. This relationship was first proposed by Roy and Sherrington who suggested that brain possesses intrinsic mechanisms to regulate the availability of energy substrates in register with local variations of functional activity. This concept was later confirmed by Sokoloff and colleagues who demonstrated that increased neuronal activity led to increased glucose utilization in almost any areas of the brain tested. Despite wide acceptance of this concept, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie this close relationship between neuronal activity and energy metabolism have remained largely unknown. The extensive analysis carried out by our group will be discussed. Astrocytes appear to be the key cells that operate the coupling between synaptic activity and glucose utilization. Indeed both in vitro and in vivo evidences indicate that astrocytes can detect synaptically released glutamate through sodium‐coupled uptake operated by glutamate transporters. Disruption of sodium homeostasis activates the energy‐demanding Na‐K‐ATPase which promotes glucose uptake and lactate production. Relevance of these findings to functional brain imaging will be discussed.