Topic: glucose catabolism

The brain is one of the most active metabolic organs. Indeed, weighing 2% of total body weight, it consumes up to 20% of the energy. Most of the brain energy comes from glucose catabolism, resulting in the production of ATP and lactate. Brain lactate is mainly produced by astrocytes through a process called aerobic glycolysis, while neurons, being high oxidative cells, preferentially use mitochondrial respiration to produce ATP. In this frame, astrocytes provide lactate to neurons, in a process called astrocytes to neurons lactate shuttle. Lactate is not only important as a metabolic support i