Astrocyte glycogen and brain energy metabolism
Abstract
The brain contains glycogen but at low concentration compared with liver and muscle. In the adult brain, glycogen is found predominately in astrocytes. Astrocyte glycogen content is modulated by a number of factors including some neurotransmitters and ambient glucose concentration. Compelling evidence indicates that astrocyte glycogen breaks down during hypoglycemia to lactate that is transferred to adjacent neurons or axons where it is used aerobically as fuel. In the case of CNS white matter, this source of energy can extend axon function for 20 min or longer. Likewise, during periods of intense neural activity when energy demand exceeds glucose supply, astrocyte glycogen is degraded to lactate, a portion of which is transferred to axons for fuel. Astrocyte glycogen, therefore, offers some protection against hypoglycemic neural injury and ensures that neurons and axons can maintain their function during very intense periods of activation. These emerging principles about the roles of astrocyte glycogen contradict the long held belief that this metabolic pool has little or no functional significance. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
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Under hypoxia, cerebrovascular accidents, highly-activated neurons, and other stress conditions, astrocytes release ATP, which provides energy for neuron activity.
“Under hypoxia, cerebrovascular accidents, highly-activated neurons, and other stress conditions, astrocytes release ATP, which provides energy for neuron activity [23].”
From APOE4 genotype exacerbates the depression-like behavior of mice during aging through ATP decline (2021) · cites this paper as [23]
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- Authors
- Brown, A. M., & Ransom, B. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Nottingham (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Brown, Angus M.
- Venue
- Glia
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2007-07-20
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 1263-1271
- ISSN
- 0894-1491 (ISSN-L)
- 1098-1136
- OpenAlex
- W2161480852
- Cited by
- 626
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 34 · 2017: 45 · 2016: 40 · 2015: 37 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 34 · 2012: 38
- FWCI
- 1.77
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Glia (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Glycogen Storage Diseases and Myoclonus
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Keywords
- brain energy metabolism, hypoglycemia, lactate, white matter, glucose, neurotransmitters
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Astrocytes, Axons, Brain Chemistry, Energy Metabolism, Glycogen, Humans, Hypoglycemia
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