Cited by 1,711Memory and Neural MechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNeurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms

Astrocyte-Neuron Lactate Transport Is Required for Long-Term Memory Formation

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Suzuki, Akinobu, Stern, Sarah A., Bozdagi, Ozlem, Huntley, George W., Walker, Ruth H., Magistretti, Pierre J., Alberini, Cristina M.·2011·Cell

Abstract

We report that, in the rat hippocampus, learning leads to a significant increase in extracellular lactate levels that derive from glycogen, an energy reserve selectively localized in astrocytes. Astrocytic glycogen breakdown and lactate release are essential for long-term but not short-term memory formation, and for the maintenance of long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic strength elicited in vivo. Disrupting the expression of the astrocytic lactate transporters monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) or MCT1 causes amnesia, which, like LTP impairment, is rescued by L-lactate but not equicaloric glucose. Disrupting the expression of the neuronal lactate transporter MCT2 also leads to amnesia that is unaffected by either L-lactate or glucose, suggesting that lactate import into neurons is necessary for long-term memory. Glycogenolysis and astrocytic lactate transporters are also critical for the induction of molecular changes required for memory formation, including the induction of phospho-CREB, Arc, and phospho-cofilin. We conclude that astrocyte-neuron lactate transport is required for long-term memory formation.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cell.2011.02.018

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  • The astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle regulates neuronal activity.

    “Increased levels of lactate have also been shown to be correlated with neuronal network activity, as the astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle is known to regulate neuronal activity.31”

    From ApoE4-dependent lysosomal cholesterol accumulation impairs mitochondrial homeostasis and oxidative phosphorylation in human astrocytes (2023) · cites this paper as [31]

    The Results section reports that training increased hippocampal lactate and that blocking glycogen metabolism disrupted maintenance of hippocampal long-term potentiation, an effect rescued by lactate. This supports a role for astrocyte–neuron lactate transport in activity-related synaptic plasticity, but the paper does not directly establish a correlation between lactate levels and neuronal network activity or show regulation of baseline neuronal activity. Page numbers were unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Increased levels of lactate are correlated with neuronal network activity.

    “Increased levels of lactate have also been shown to be correlated with neuronal network activity, as the astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle is known to regulate neuronal activity.31”

    From ApoE4-dependent lysosomal cholesterol accumulation impairs mitochondrial homeostasis and oxidative phosphorylation in human astrocytes (2023) · cites this paper as [31]

    The Results section, “Learning-induced astrocytic release of lactate is required for memory formation” (page unavailable), reports that hippocampal lactate increased after training. The Introduction and Discussion link lactate transport to neuronal activity, but the paper does not report a direct correlation between lactate levels and measured neuronal network activity. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Metabolic state may influence the properties of neuronal computation, suggesting a bidirectional interaction between energy metabolism and information processing.

    “Conversely, metabolic state may, in turn, influence the properties of neuronal computation19, suggesting a bidirectional interaction between energy metabolism and information processing.”
  • L-lactate plays a key role in LTP at hippocampal CA1 synapses.

    “Another astrocyte-derived molecule, L-lactate, plays a key role in LTP at hippocampal CA1 synapses 37 .”
  • L-lactate has a necessary role in long-term episodic memory.

    “A first study identified a necessary role for L-lactate in long-term episodic memory by pharmacological inhibition of its production in astrocytes 37 .”

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2 of the 65 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Clarke DD Sokoloff L Siegle GJ Agranoff BW Albers RW Molinoff PB Circulating and energy metabolism of the brain In Basic Neurosciemistry 1994 645 680 Raven Press New York
  2. Kettenmann H Ransom BR Neuroglia 2005 Oxford University Press New York 2nd ed.

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Authors
Suzuki, A., Stern, S. A., Bozdagi, O., Huntley, G. W., Walker, R. H., Magistretti, P. J., & Alberini, C. M.
Affiliations
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
  • James J. Peters VA Medical Center (US)
  • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CH)
Corresponding author
  • Magistretti, Pierre J.
  • Alberini, Cristina M.
Venue
Cell
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2011-03
Volume
144
Issue
5
Pages
810-823
ISSN
0092-8674 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2001725826
Cited by
1,711
References
65
Citations by year
2026: 157 · 2025: 138 · 2024: 142 · 2023: 145 · 2022: 118 · 2021: 123 · 2020: 119 · 2019: 109 · 2018: 111 · 2017: 88 · 2016: 95 · 2015: 100 · 2014: 78 · 2013: 70 · 2012: 76
FWCI
42.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • IRIS (submittedVersion)
  • Infoscience (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) (submittedVersion)
  • Infoscience (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • SERVAL (Université de Lausanne) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  • École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH074736, R01MH065635, T32MH087004)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
Keywords
long-term memory, hippocampus, extracellular lactate, MCT4, MCT1, MCT2, long-term potentiation, amnesia, L-lactate, synaptic plasticity, CREB, Arc, cofilin, learning
MeSH terms
Monocarboxylate Transport Protein 1, Animals, Arabinose, Astrocytes, Glycogen, Hippocampus, Muscle Proteins, Neurons, Sugar Alcohols, Lactic Acid, Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters, Symporters, Imino Furanoses, Rats, Memory, Long-Term

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