Astrocyte-Neuron Interactions during Learning May Occur by Lactate Signaling Rather than Metabolism.

Mauro Dinuzzo

doi:10.3389/fnint.2016.00002

Abstract

Biology is full of instances of exaptation, the functional shift or co-optation of a trait during evolution (Gould and Vrba, 1982). Exaptation played a critical role in human brain evolution. For example, hominin brain expansion is thought to have happened opportunistically upon food resources rich in brain-selective nutrients (Tattersall, 2010). Prehensile hands and bipedalism were other enabling factors in this process, as both features preceded the expansion of the brain, and notably, the development and utilization of tools (Wood, 2010). Similarly, central and peripheral vocal structures, initially used for a variety of non-linguistic reasons (chewing, larynx protection, size exaggeration), were pre-existing conditions to, and provided the anatomical basis for, the evolution of language (e.g., MacNeilage, 2010). The very emergence of abstract cognitive abilities in humans are hypothesized to have evolved from faculties originally developed for other purposes (Pinker, 2010).

Highlights

Interactions during Learning May Occur by Lactate Signaling Rather than Metabolism
In 1994, Pellerin and Magistretti reported that lactate release and concomitant glucose uptake in astrocytic cultures were stimulated by sodium-coupled uptake of glutamate (Pellerin and Magistretti, 1994)
Whatever the study and the specific outcome, the intercellular trafficking of lactate was always interpreted as movement of fuel, i.e., energy carbons useful for yielding most of the ATP that is achievable from oxidative metabolism of glucose

Summary

Introduction

Interactions during Learning May Occur by Lactate Signaling Rather than Metabolism. Front. The stimulation of glycolysis during glutamate uptake shown by Pellerin and Magistretti (1994) triggered the hypothesis of an astrocyte to neuron lactate shuttle, setting the stage for subsequent research

Results

Conclusion