Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 22, 2026
14:57
Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology
Published on: March 23, 2011
[Synaptic utilization of lactate/pyruvate and neural function in the aging].
Takashi Sakurai1, Bo Yang, Koichi Yokono
1Department of Internal and Geriatric Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine.
Nihon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi. Japanese Journal of Geriatrics
|August 26, 2003
Summary
Neurons use glucose, but lactate is an alternative fuel. Protein kinase C (PKC) is key for synaptic lactate use in adult brains, but this function is impaired in aged brains.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cellular Metabolism
- Neurochemistry
Context:
- Neuronal cells primarily use glucose for energy.
- Monocarboxylates like lactate and pyruvate serve as alternative metabolic fuels in the central nervous system.
- Understanding synaptic energy metabolism is crucial for brain function.
Purpose:
- To investigate the synaptic utilization of lactate and pyruvate in hippocampal slices from adult and aged guinea pigs.
- To determine the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in lactate-mediated synaptic activity.
- To assess age-related changes in lactate metabolism in the hippocampus.
Summary:
- In adult guinea pig hippocampal slices, replacing glucose with lactate initially suppressed synaptic activity, but spontaneous recovery occurred.
- This recovery was dependent on protein kinase C (PKC) as chelerythrine (a PKC inhibitor) blocked it.
- In contrast, inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and tyrosine kinase did not affect lactate utilization.
- In aged guinea pigs, extracellular lactate failed to sustain synaptic function, indicating impaired lactate metabolism.
Impact:
- Reveals a PKC-dependent mechanism for synaptic lactate utilization in adult brains.
- Demonstrates that lactate metabolism in synapses is impaired in the aged brain.
- Highlights potential therapeutic targets for age-related cognitive decline by understanding metabolic shifts.
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