Cited by 383Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsNeonatal and fetal brain pathologyMultiple Sclerosis Research Studies

Regulation of Oligodendrocyte Development and Myelination by Glucose and Lactate

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Rinholm, Johanne E., Hamilton, Nicola B., Kessaris, Nicoletta, Richardson, William D., Bergersen, Linda H., Attwell, David·2011·The Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

In the gray matter of the brain, astrocytes have been suggested to export lactate (derived from glucose or glycogen) to neurons to power their mitochondria. In the white matter, lactate can support axon function in conditions of energy deprivation, but it is not known whether lactate acts by preserving energy levels in axons or in oligodendrocytes, the myelinating processes of which are damaged rapidly in low energy conditions. Studies of cultured cells suggest that oligodendrocytes are the cell type in the brain that consumes lactate at the highest rate, in part to produce membrane lipids presumably for myelin. Here, we use pH imaging to show that oligodendrocytes in the white matter of the rat cerebellum and corpus callosum take up lactate via monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs), which we identify as MCT1 by confocal immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Using cultured slices of developing cerebral cortex from mice in which oligodendrocyte lineage cells express GFP (green fluorescent protein) under the control of the Sox10 promoter, we show that a low glucose concentration reduces the number of oligodendrocyte lineage cells and myelination. Myelination is rescued when exogenous l-lactate is supplied. Thus, lactate can support oligodendrocyte development and myelination. In CNS diseases involving energy deprivation at times of myelination or remyelination, such as periventricular leukomalacia leading to cerebral palsy, stroke, and secondary ischemia after spinal cord injury, lactate transporters in oligodendrocytes may play an important role in minimizing the inhibition of myelination that occurs.

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Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.3516-10.2011

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  • During developmental myelination, oligodendrocytes import and utilize lactate for ATP generation and the synthesis of myelin lipids, which requires functional expression of LDH.

    “During developmental myelination, oligodendrocytes are thought to import and utilize lactate for ATP generation and the synthesis of myelin lipids (Amaral et al., 2016;Rinholm et al., 2011;Sánchez-Abarca et al., 2001), which requires functional expression of LDH.”

    From Downregulated expression of lactate dehydrogenase in adult oligodendrocytes and its implication for the transfer of glycolysis products to axons (2024) · cites this paper as Rinholm et al., 2011

    The Introduction says oligodendrocytes need ATP and lipids for myelination and reports that cultured oligodendrocytes use lactate to fuel mitochondria and synthesize lipids. The Discussion confirms lactate uptake and shows that added lactate supports myelination under low-glucose conditions. The cited paper does not establish the added claim that this requires functional LDH expression. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • Cultured oligodendrocytes in vitro express both LDHA and LDHB.

    “we detected both LDHA and LDHB in these cells in vitro.”

    From Downregulated expression of lactate dehydrogenase in adult oligodendrocytes and its implication for the transfer of glycolysis products to axons (2024) · cites this paper as Rinholm et al., 2011

    The Results section on cultured cortical slices reports myelination and lactate responses, but not LDHA or LDHB expression. Searches for LDHA, LDHB, and lactate dehydrogenase isoforms found no passage in our copy establishing that cultured oligodendrocytes express both. (LLM, conf=0.72)

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Authors
Rinholm, J. E., Hamilton, N. B., Kessaris, N., Richardson, W. D., Bergersen, L. H., & Attwell, D.
Affiliations
  • University College London (GB)
  • University of Oslo (NO)
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2011-01-12
Volume
31
Issue
2
Pages
538-548
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W2038392123
Cited by
383
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 28 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 13
FWCI
7.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust (080513, 075232/Z/04/Z)
  • European Commission
  • Universitetet i Oslo
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Neonatal and fetal brain pathology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
Keywords
oligodendrocyte development, myelination, lactate, glucose, monocarboxylate transporters, MCT1, lactate transport, oligodendrocyte lineage, cortical development, energy deprivation, remyelination, periventricular leukomalacia, white matter, cerebellum, corpus callosum, SOX10
MeSH terms
Monocarboxylate Transport Protein 1, Animals, Brain, Cerebral Cortex, Glucose, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Male, Mice, Transgenic, Myelin Sheath, Oligodendroglia, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Rats, Wistar, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Lactic Acid, Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters, Symporters, Tissue Culture Techniques, Mice, Rats

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