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Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Deriving the Time Course of Glutamate Clearance with a Deconvolution Analysis of Astrocytic Transporter Currents
Published on: August 7, 2013
Glial Excitatory Amino Acid Transporters and Glucose Incorporation
Germán Fernando Gutiérrez Aguilar1, Ivan Alquisiras-Burgos1, Mónica Espinoza-Rojo2
1Laboratorio de Patología Vascular Cerebral, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía "Manuel Velasco Suárez", Insurgentes Sur #3877, Col. La Fama, Tlalpan, Ciudad de México, 14269, México.
Abstract:
Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) expressed in astrocytes remove the glutamate released by neurons in and around the synaptic cleft. In this manner, astrocytes preserve the signaling functions mediated by glutamate on synapses and prevent excitotoxicity. Additionally, EAAT activation stimulates glucose utilization in astrocytes, linking neuronal activity with astrocyte metabolism. In this chapter, we briefly review the characteristics of the EAATs and the glucose transporters (GLUTs) expressed in the brain. Thereafter, we focus on the effect of EAATs activation and its association with glucose utilization in astrocytes, specifically addressing the role played by Na+ and Ca2+ ions. Next, we analyze evidence that proposes mechanisms by which the activity of GLUTs could be modulated after EAAT activation (e.g., kinases altering GLUTs traffic to cell membrane). Finally, we analyzed the current knowledge on EAAT function during energy deficiency as a possible inducer of GLUT expression to prevent neuronal damage.
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Glucose Transporters
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:
Secondary Active Transport
Secondary Active Transport
Membrane Proteins
Glucose Absorption Into the Small Intestine
Glial Cells