Astrocytic and neuronal oxidative metabolism are coupled to the rate of glutamate-glutamine cycle in the tree shrew visual cortex

A Comprehensive Review of Membrane Transporters and MicroRNA Regulation in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a distressing neurodegenerative condition characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and tau tangles within the brain. The interconnectedness between membrane transporters (SLCs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) in AD pathogenesis has gained increasing attention. This review explores the localization, substrates, and functions of SLC transporters in the brain, emphasizing the roles of transporters for glutamate, glucose, nucleosides, and other essential compounds. The examination delves into the significance of SLCs in AD, their potential for drug development, and the intricate realm of miRNAs, encompassing their transcription, processing, functions, and regulation. MiRNAs have emerged as significant players in AD, including those associated with mitochondria and synapses. Furthermore, this review discusses the intriguing nexus of miRNAs targeting SLC transporters and their potential as therapeutic targets in AD. Finally, the review underscores the interaction between SLC transporters and miRNA regulation within the context of Alzheimer's disease, underscoring the need for further research in this area. This comprehensive review aims to shed light on the complex mechanisms underlying the causation of AD and provides insights into potential therapeutic approaches.

Concentrations of glutamate and N-acetylaspartate detected by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the rat hippocampus correlate with hippocampal-dependent spatial memory performance

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been employed to investigate brain metabolite concentrations in vivo, and they vary during neuronal activation, across brain activity states, or upon disease with neurological impact. Whether resting brain metabolites correlate with functioning in behavioral tasks remains to be demonstrated in any of the widely used rodent models. This study tested the hypothesis that, in the absence of neurological disease or injury, the performance in a hippocampal-dependent memory task is correlated with the hippocampal levels of metabolites that are mainly synthesized in neurons, namely N-acetylaspartate (NAA), glutamate and GABA. Experimentally naïve rats were tested for hippocampal-dependent spatial memory performance by measuring spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze, followed by anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in the hippocampus and cortex. Memory performance correlated with hippocampal concentrations of NAA (p = 0.024) and glutamate (p = 0.014) but not GABA. Concentrations of glutamate in the cortex also correlated with spatial memory (p = 0.035). In addition, memory performance was also correlated with the relative volume of the hippocampus (p = 0.041). Altogether, this exploratory study suggests that levels of the neuronal maker NAA and the main excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate are associated with physiological functional capacity.

Mechanistic stoichiometric relationship between the rates of neurotransmission and neuronal glucose oxidation: Reevaluation of and alternatives to the pseudo-malate-aspartate shuttle model

The ~1:1 stoichiometry between the rates of neuronal glucose oxidation (CMRglc-ox-N) and glutamate (Glu)/γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-glutamine (Gln) neurotransmitter (NT) cycling between neurons and astrocytes (VNTcycle) has been firmly established. However, the mechanistic basis for this relationship is not fully understood, and this knowledge is critical for the interpretation of metabolic and brain imaging studies in normal and diseased brain. The pseudo-malate-aspartate shuttle (pseudo-MAS) model established the requirement for glycolytic metabolism in cultured glutamatergic neurons to produce NADH that is shuttled into mitochondria to support conversion of extracellular Gln (i.e., astrocyte-derived Gln in vivo) into vesicular neurotransmitter Glu. The evaluation of this model revealed that it could explain half of the 1:1 stoichiometry and it has limitations. Modifications of the pseudo-MAS model were, therefore, devised to address major knowledge gaps, that is, submitochondrial glutaminase location, identities of mitochondrial carriers for Gln and other model components, alternative mechanisms to transaminate α-ketoglutarate to form Glu and shuttle glutamine-derived ammonia while maintaining mass balance. All modified models had a similar 0.5 to 1.0 predicted mechanistic stoichiometry between VNTcycle and the rate of glucose oxidation. Based on studies of brain β-hydroxybutyrate oxidation, about half of CMRglc-ox-N may be linked to glutamatergic neurotransmission and localized in pre-synaptic structures that use pseudo-MAS type mechanisms for Glu-Gln cycling. In contrast, neuronal compartments that do not participate in transmitter cycling may use the MAS to sustain glucose oxidation. The evaluation of subcellular compartmentation of neuronal glucose metabolism in vivo is a critically important topic for future studies to understand glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission.

Differential Effects of Chronic Ethanol Use on Mouse Neuronal and Astroglial Metabolic Activity

Chronic alcohol use disorder, a major risk factor for the development of neuropsychiatric disorders including addiction to other substances, is associated with several neuropathology including perturbed neuronal and glial activities in the brain. It affects carbon metabolism in specific brain regions, and perturbs neuro-metabolite homeostasis in neuronal and glial cells. Alcohol induced changes in the brain neurochemical profile accompany the negative emotional state associated with dysregulated reward and sensitized stress response to withdrawal. However, the underlying alterations in neuro-astroglial activities and neurochemical dysregulations in brain regions after chronic alcohol use are poorly understood. This study evaluates the impact of chronic ethanol use on the regional neuro-astroglial metabolic activity using ¹H-[¹³C]-NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with infusion of [1,6-¹³C₂]glucose and sodium [2-¹³C]acetate, respectively, after 48 h of abstinence. Besides establishing detailed ¹³C labeling of neuro-metabolites in a brain region-specific manner, our results show chronic ethanol induced-cognitive deficits along with a reduction in total glucose oxidation rates in the hippocampus and striatum. Furthermore, using [2-¹³C]acetate infusion, we showed an alcohol-induced increase in astroglial metabolic activity in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Interestingly, increased astroglia activity in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex was associated with a differential expression of monocarboxylic acid transporters that are regulating acetate uptake and metabolism in the brain.

Loss of brain energy metabolism control as a driver for memory impairment upon insulin resistance

The pathophysiological mechanisms intersecting metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders include insulin resistance, which has a strong involvement of environmental factors. Besides central regulation of whole-body homeostasis, insulin in the central nervous system controls molecular signalling that is critical for cognitive performance, namely signalling through pathways that modulate synaptic transmission and plasticity, and metabolism in neurons and astrocytes. This review provides an overview on how insulin signalling in the brain might regulate brain energy metabolism, and further identified molecular mechanisms by which brain insulin resistance might impair synaptic fuelling, and lead to cognitive deterioration.

Metabolic Recruitment in Brain Tissue

Information processing imposes urgent metabolic demands on neurons, which have negligible energy stores and restricted access to fuel. Here, we discuss metabolic recruitment, the tissue-level phenomenon whereby active neurons harvest resources from their surroundings. The primary event is the neuronal release of K⁺ that mirrors workload. Astrocytes sense K⁺ in exquisite fashion thanks to their unique coexpression of NBCe1 and α2β2 Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase, and within seconds switch to Crabtree metabolism, involving GLUT1, aerobic glycolysis, transient suppression of mitochondrial respiration, and lactate export. The lactate surge serves as a secondary recruiter by inhibiting glucose consumption in distant cells. Additional recruiters are glutamate, nitric oxide, and ammonium, which signal over different spatiotemporal domains. The net outcome of these events is that more glucose, lactate, and oxygen are made available. Metabolic recruitment works alongside neurovascular coupling and various averaging strategies to support the inordinate dynamic range of individual neurons.

A molecular framework for autistic experiences: Mitochondrial allostatic load as a mediator between autism and psychopathology

Molecular autism research is evolving toward a biopsychosocial framework that is more informed by autistic experiences. In this context, research aims are moving away from correcting external autistic behaviors and toward alleviating internal distress. Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASCs) are associated with high rates of depression, suicidality and other comorbid psychopathologies, but this relationship is poorly understood. Here, we integrate emerging characterizations of internal autistic experiences within a molecular framework to yield insight into the prevalence of psychopathology in ASC. We demonstrate that descriptions of social camouflaging and autistic burnout resonate closely with the accepted definitions for early life stress (ELS) and chronic adolescent stress (CAS). We propose that social camouflaging could be considered a distinct form of CAS that contributes to allostatic overload, culminating in a pathophysiological state that is experienced as autistic burnout. Autistic burnout is thought to contribute to psychopathology via psychological and physiological mechanisms, but these remain largely unexplored by molecular researchers. Building on converging fields in molecular neuroscience, we discuss the substantial evidence implicating mitochondrial dysfunction in ASC to propose a novel role for mitochondrial allostatic load in the relationship between autism and psychopathology. An interplay between mitochondrial, neuroimmune and neuroendocrine signaling is increasingly implicated in stress-related psychopathologies, and these molecular players are also associated with neurodevelopmental, neurophysiological and neurochemical aspects of ASC. Together, this suggests an increased exposure and underlying molecular susceptibility to ELS that increases the risk of psychopathology in ASC. This article describes an integrative framework shaped by autistic experiences that highlights novel avenues for molecular research into mechanisms that directly affect the quality of life and wellbeing of autistic individuals. Moreover, this framework emphasizes the need for increased access to diagnoses, accommodations, and resources to improve mental health outcomes in autism.

Rates of pyruvate carboxylase, glutamate and GABA neurotransmitter cycling, and glucose oxidation in multiple brain regions of the awake rat using a combination of [2-13C]/[1-13C]glucose infusion and 1H-[13C]NMR ex vivo

Anaplerosis occurs predominately in astroglia through the action of pyruvate carboxylase (PC). The rate of PC (Vpc) has been reported for cerebral cortex (or whole brain) of awake humans and anesthetized rodents, but regional brain rates remain largely unknown and, hence, were subjected to investigation in the current study. Awake male rats were infused with either [2-¹³C]glucose or [1-¹³C]glucose (n = 27/30) for 8, 15, 30, 60 or 120 min, followed by rapid euthanasia with focused-beam microwave irradiation to the brain. Blood plasma and extracts of cerebellum, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebral cortex were analyzed by ¹H-[¹³C]-NMR to establish ¹³C-enrichment time courses for glutamate-C4,C3,C2, glutamine-C4,C3, GABA-C2,C3,C4 and aspartate-C2,C3. Metabolic rates were determined by fitting a three-compartment metabolic model (glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons and astroglia) to the eighteen time courses. Vpc varied by 44% across brain regions, being lowest in the cerebellum (0.087 ± 0.004 µmol/g/min) and highest in striatum (0.125 ± 0.009) with intermediate values in cerebral cortex (0.106 ± 0.005) and hippocampus (0.114 ± 0.005). Vpc constituted 13-19% of the oxidative glucose consumption rate. Combination of cerebral cortical data with literature values revealed a positive correlation between Vpc and the rates of glutamate/glutamine-cycling and oxidative glucose consumption, respectively, consistent with earlier observations.

Current Status of Our Understanding for Brain Integrated Functions and its Energetics

Human/animal brain is a unique organ with substantially high metabolism but it contains no energy reserve that is the reason it requires continuous supply of O₂ and energy fluxes through CBF. The main source of energy remains glucose as the other biomolecules do not able to cross the blood-brain barrier. The speed of glucose metabolism is heterogeneous throughout the brain. One of the major flux consumption is Neuron-astrocyte cycling of glutamate and glutamine in glutamatergic neurons (approximately 80% of glucose metabolism in brain). The quantification of cellular glucose and other related substrate in resting, activated state can be analyzed through [¹⁸ F]FDG -positron-emission tomography (studying CMRglc) and [¹³ C/³¹P -MRS: for neuroenergetics & neurotransmitter cycling &³¹P-MRS: for energy induction & redox state). Merging basic in vitro studies with these techniques will help to develop new treatment paradigms for human brain diseased conditions.

Simultaneous detection of metabolite concentration changes, water BOLD signal and pH changes during visual stimulation in the human brain at 9.4T

This study presents a method to directly link metabolite concentration changes and BOLD response in the human brain during visual stimulation by measuring the water and metabolite signals simultaneously. Therefore, the metabolite-cycling (MC) non-water suppressed semiLASER localization technique was optimized for functional 1H MRS in the human brain at 9.4 T. Data of 13 volunteers were acquired during a 26:40 min visual stimulation block-design paradigm. Activation-induced BOLD signal was observed in the MC water signal as well as in the NAA-CH3 and tCr-CH3 singlets. During stimulation, glutamate concentration increased 2.3 ± 2.0% to a new steady-state, while a continuous increase over the whole stimulation period could be observed in lactate with a mean increase of 35.6 ± 23.1%. These increases of Lac and Glu during brain activation confirm previous findings reported in literature. A positive correlation of the MC water BOLD signal with glutamate and lactate concentration changes was found. In addition, a pH decrease calculated from a change in the ratio of PCr to Cr was observed during brain activation, particularly at the onset of the stimulation.

How expensive is the astrocyte?

The energy cost of information processing is thought to be chiefly neuronal, with a minor fraction attributed to glial cells. However, there is compelling evidence that astrocytes capture synaptic K⁺ using their Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase, and not solely through Kir4.1 channels as was once thought. When this active buffering is taken into account, the cost of astrocytes rises by >200%. Gram-per-gram, astrocytes turn out to be as expensive as neurons. This conclusion is supported by 3D reconstruction of the neuropil showing similar mitochondrial densities in neurons and astrocytes, by cell-specific transcriptomics and proteomics, and by the rates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Possible consequences for reactive astrogliosis and brain disease are discussed.

Glucose sparing by glycogenolysis (GSG) determines the relationship between brain metabolism and neurotransmission

Over the last two decades, it has been established that glucose metabolic fluxes in neurons and astrocytes are proportional to the rates of the glutamate/GABA-glutamine neurotransmitter cycles in close to 1:1 stoichiometries across a wide range of functional energy demands. However, there is presently no mechanistic explanation for these relationships. We present here a theoretical meta-analysis that tests whether the brain's unique compartmentation of glycogen metabolism in the astrocyte and the requirement for neuronal glucose homeostasis lead to the observed stoichiometries. We found that blood-brain barrier glucose transport can be limiting during activation and that the energy demand could only be met if glycogenolysis supports neuronal glucose metabolism by replacing the glucose consumed by astrocytes, a mechanism we call Glucose Sparing by Glycogenolysis (GSG). The predictions of the GSG model are in excellent agreement with a wide range of experimental results from rats, mice, tree shrews, and humans, which were previously unexplained. Glycogenolysis and glucose sparing dictate the energy available to support neuronal activity, thus playing a fundamental role in brain function in health and disease.

Taurine Supplementation as a Neuroprotective Strategy upon Brain Dysfunction in Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes

Obesity, type 2 diabetes, and their associated comorbidities impact brain metabolism and function and constitute risk factors for cognitive impairment. Alterations to taurine homeostasis can impact a number of biological processes, such as osmolarity control, calcium homeostasis, and inhibitory neurotransmission, and have been reported in both metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders. Models of neurodegenerative disorders show reduced brain taurine concentrations. On the other hand, models of insulin-dependent diabetes, insulin resistance, and diet-induced obesity display taurine accumulation in the hippocampus. Given the possible cytoprotective actions of taurine, such cerebral accumulation of taurine might constitute a compensatory mechanism that attempts to prevent neurodegeneration. The present article provides an overview of brain taurine homeostasis and reviews the mechanisms by which taurine can afford neuroprotection in individuals with obesity and diabetes. We conclude that further research is needed for understanding taurine homeostasis in metabolic disorders with an impact on brain function.

MRS-measured glutamate versus GABA reflects excitatory versus inhibitory neural activities in awake mice

To assess if magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)-measured Glutamate (Glu) and GABA reflect excitatory and inhibitory neural activities, respectively, we conducted MRS measurements along with two-photon mesoscopic imaging of calcium signals in excitatory and inhibitory neurons of living, unanesthetized mice. For monitoring stimulus-driven activations of a brain region, MRS signals and mesoscopic neural activities were measured during two consecutive sessions of 15-min prolonged sensory stimulations. In the first session, putative excitatory neuronal activities were increased, while inhibitory neuronal activities remained at the baseline level. In the second half, while excitatory neuronal activities remained elevated, inhibitory neuronal activities were significantly enhanced. We assessed regional neurochemical statuses by measuring MRS signals, which were overall in accordance with the neural activities, and neuronal activities and neurochemical statuses in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome under resting condition. Mesoscopic assessments showed that activities of inhibitory neurons in the cortex were diminished relative to wild-type mice in contrast to spared activities of excitatory neurons. Consistent with these observations, the Dravet model exhibited lower concentrations of GABA than wild-type controls. Collectively, the current investigations demonstrate that MRS-measured Glu and GABA can reflect spontaneous and stimulated activities of neurons producing and releasing these neurotransmitters in an awake condition.

A glucose-stimulated BOLD fMRI study of hypothalamic dysfunction in mice fed a high-fat and high-sucrose diet

The hypothalamus is the central regulator of energy homeostasis. Hypothalamic neuronal circuits are disrupted upon overfeeding, and play a role in the development of metabolic disorders. While mouse models have been extensively employed for understanding the mechanisms of hypothalamic dysfunction, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on hypothalamic nuclei has been challenging. We implemented a robust glucose-induced fMRI paradigm that allows to repeatedly investigate hypothalamic responses to glucose. This approach was used to test the hypothesis that hypothalamic nuclei functioning is impaired in mice exposed to a high-fat and high-sucrose diet (HFHSD) for seven days. The blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) fMRI signal was measured from brains of mice under light isoflurane anaesthesia, during which a 2.6 g/kg glucose load was administered. The mouse hypothalamus responded to glucose but not saline administration with a biphasic BOLD fMRI signal reduction. Relative to controls, HFHSD-fed mice showed attenuated or blunted responses in arcuate nucleus, lateral hypothalamus, ventromedial nucleus and dorsomedial nucleus, but not in paraventricular nucleus. In sum, we have developed an fMRI paradigm that is able to determine dysfunction of glucose-sensing neuronal circuits within the mouse hypothalamus in a non-invasive manner.

Proton functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy in rodents

Proton functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹ H-fMRS) in the human brain is able to assess and quantify the metabolic response due to localized brain activity. Currently, ¹ H-fMRS of the human brain is complementary to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a recommended technique at high field strengths (>7 T) for the investigation of neurometabolic couplings, thereby providing insight into the mechanisms underlying brain activity and brain connectivity. Understanding typical healthy brain metabolism during a task is expected to provide a baseline from which to detect and characterize neurochemical alterations associated with various neurological or psychiatric disorders and diseases. It is of paramount importance to resolve fundamental questions related to the regulation of neurometabolic processes. New techniques such as optogenetics may be coupled to fMRI and fMRS to bring more specificity to investigations of brain cell populations during cerebral activation thus enabling a higher link to molecular changes and therapeutic advances. These rather novel techniques are mainly available for rodent applications and trigger renewed interest in animal fMRS. However, rodent fMRS remains fairly confidential due to its inherent low signal-to-noise ratio and its dependence on anesthesia. For instance, the accurate determination of metabolic concentration changes during stimulation requires robust knowledge of the physiological environment of the measured region of interest linked to anesthesia in most cases. These factors may also have a strong influence on B0 homogeneity. Therefore, a degree of calibration of the stimulus strength and duration may be needed for increased knowledge of the underpinnings of cerebral activity. Here, we propose an early review of the current status of ¹ H-fMRS in rodents and summarize current difficulties and future perspectives.

Neurochemical underpinning of hemodynamic response to neuropsychiatric drugs: A meta- and cluster analysis of preclinical studies

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is an extensively used method for the investigation of normal and pathological brain function. In particular, fMRI has been used to characterize spatiotemporal hemodynamic response to pharmacological challenges as a non-invasive readout of neuronal activity. However, the mechanisms underlying regional signal changes are yet unclear. In this study, we use a meta-analytic approach to converge data from microdialysis experiments with relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) changes following acute administration of neuropsychiatric drugs in adult male rats. At whole-brain level, the functional response patterns show very weak correlation with neurochemical alterations, while for numerous brain areas a strong positive correlation with noradrenaline release exists. At a local scale of individual brain regions, the rCBV response to neurotransmitters is anatomically heterogeneous and, importantly, based on a complex interplay of different neurotransmitters that often exert opposing effects, thus providing a mechanism for regulating and fine tuning hemodynamic responses in specific regions.

High temporal resolution functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the mouse upon visual stimulation

Functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (fMRS) quantifies metabolic variations upon presentation of a stimulus and can therefore provide complementary information compared to activity inferred from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Improving the temporal resolution of fMRS can be beneficial to clinical applications where detailed information on metabolism can assist the characterization of brain function in healthy and sick populations as well as for neuroscience applications where information on the nature of the underlying activity could be potentially gained. Furthermore, fMRS with higher temporal resolution could benefit basic studies on animal models of disease and for investigating brain function in general. However, to date, fMRS has been limited to sustained periods of activation which risk adaptation and other undesirable effects. Here, we performed fMRS experiments in the mouse with high temporal resolution (12 s), and show the feasibility of such an approach for reliably quantifying metabolic variations upon activation. We detected metabolic variations in the superior colliculus of mice subjected to visual stimulation delivered in a block paradigm at 9.4 T. A robust modulation of glutamate is observed on the average time course, on the difference spectra and on the concentration distributions during active and recovery periods. A general linear model is used for the statistical analysis, and for exploring the nature of the modulation. Changes in NAAG, PCr and Cr levels were also detected. A control experiment with no stimulation reveals potential metabolic signal "drifts" that are not correlated with the functional activity, which should be taken into account when analyzing fMRS data in general. Our findings are promising for future applications of fMRS.

Blood oxygen level dependent fMRI and perfusion MRI in the sheep brain

The ovine model could be an effective translational model but remains underexplored. Here, Blood Oxygen Level dependent functional MRI during visual stimulation and resting-state perfusion MRI were explored. We aimed at investigating the impact of isoflurane anesthesia during visual stimulation and evaluate resting cerebral blood flow and cerebral blood volume parameters in the lamb and adult sheep brain. BOLD fMRI and perfusion MRI after a bolus of DOTAREM were conducted in 4 lambs and 6 adult ewes at 3 T. A visual stimulation paradigm was delivered during fMRI at increasing isoflurane doses (1-3%). Robust but weak BOLD responses (0.21 ± 0.08%) were found in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) up to 3% isoflurane anaesthesia. No significant differences were found beween BOLD responses in the range 1 to 3% ISO (p > 0.05). However, LGN cluster size decreased and functional localization became less reliable at high ISO doses (2.5-3% ISO). BOLD responses were weaker in adult sheep than in lambs (4.6 ± 1.5 versus 13.6 ± 8.5; p = 0.08). Relative cerebral blood volumes (rCBV) and relative cerebral blood flows (rCBF) were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in lambs than in adult sheep for both gray and white matter. The impact of volatile anesthesia was explored for the first time on BOLD responses demonstrating increased reliability of functional localization of brain activity at low doses. Perfusion MRI was conducted for the first time in both lambs and adult ewes. Assessment of baseline cerebrovascular values are of interest for future studies of brain diseases allowing an improved interpretation of BOLD responses.

Excitatory/inhibitory neuronal metabolic balance in mouse hippocampus upon infusion of [U-13C6]glucose

Hippocampus plays a critical role in linking brain energetics and behavior typically associated to stress exposure. In this study, we aimed to simultaneously assess excitatory and inhibitory neuronal metabolism in mouse hippocampus in vivo by applying ¹⁸FDG-PET and indirect ¹³C magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-[¹³C]-MRS) at 14.1 T upon infusion of uniformly ¹³C-labeled glucose ([U-¹³C₆]Glc). Improving the spectral fitting by taking into account variable decoupling efficiencies of [U-¹³C₆]Glc and refining the compartmentalized model by including two γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) pools permit us to evaluate the relative contributions of glutamatergic and GABAergic metabolism to total hippocampal neuroenergetics. We report that GABAergic activity accounts for ∼13% of total neurotransmission (V_NT) and ∼27% of total neuronal TCA cycle (V_TCA) in mouse hippocampus suggesting a higher V_TCA/V_NT ratio for inhibitory neurons compared to excitatory neurons. Finally, our results provide new strategies and tools for bringing forward the developments and applications of ¹³C-MRS in specific brain regions of small animals.

Elevated Brain Glutamate Levels in Bipolar Disorder and Pyruvate Carboxylase-Mediated Anaplerosis

In vivo ¹H magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies have found elevated brain glutamate or glutamate + glutamine levels in bipolar disorder with surprisingly high reproducibility. We propose that the elevated glutamate levels in bipolar disorder can be explained by increased pyruvate carboxylase-mediated anaplerosis in brain. Multiple independent lines of evidence supporting increased pyruvate carboxylase-mediated anaplerosis as a common mechanism underlying glutamatergic hyperactivity in bipolar disorder and the positive association between bipolar disorder and obesity are also described.

Hyperpolarized 13C MRI: A novel approach for probing cerebral metabolism in health and neurological disease

Cerebral metabolism is tightly regulated and fundamental for healthy neurological function. There is increasing evidence that alterations in this metabolism may be a precursor and early biomarker of later stage disease processes. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) is a powerful tool to non-invasively assess tissue metabolites and has many applications for studying the normal and diseased brain. However, the technique has limitations including low spatial and temporal resolution, difficulties in discriminating overlapping peaks, and challenges in assessing metabolic flux rather than steady-state concentrations. Hyperpolarized carbon-13 magnetic resonance imaging is an emerging clinical technique that may overcome some of these spatial and temporal limitations, providing novel insights into neurometabolism in both health and in pathological processes such as glioma, stroke and multiple sclerosis. This review will explore the growing body of pre-clinical data that demonstrates a potential role for the technique in assessing metabolism in the central nervous system. There are now a number of clinical studies being undertaken in this area and this review will present the emerging clinical data as well as the potential future applications of hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance imaging in the brain, in both clinical and pre-clinical studies.

Mitochondrial metabolism: a common link between neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration

Neurodegenerative disorders have been considered as a growing health concern for decades. Increasing risk of neurodegenerative disorders creates a socioeconomic burden to both patients and care givers. Mitochondria are organelle that are involved in both neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. There are few reports on the effect of mitochondrial metabolism on the progress of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. Therefore, the present review summarizes the potential contribution of mitochondrial metabolic pathways in the pathogenesis of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. However, there its potential contribution in other neurodegenerative disorders is as yet unproven. The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier and pyruvate dehydrogenase can modulate mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism to attenuate neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Further, it has been observed that the mitochondrial citric acid cycle can regulate the pathogenesis of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Additional research should be undertaken to target tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes to minimize the progress of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. It has also been observed that the mitochondrial urea cycle can potentially contribute to the progression of neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, targeting this pathway may control the mitochondrial dysfunction-induced neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Furthermore, the mitochondrial malate-aspartate shuttle could be another target to control mitochondrial dysfunction-induced neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in neurodegenerative disorders.

Brain Metabolism Alterations in Type 2 Diabetes: What Did We Learn From Diet-Induced Diabetes Models?

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a metabolic disease with impact on brain function through mechanisms that include glucose toxicity, vascular damage and blood–brain barrier (BBB) impairments, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, brain insulin resistance, synaptic failure, neuroinflammation, and gliosis. Rodent models have been developed for investigating T2D, and have contributed to our understanding of mechanisms involved in T2D-induced brain dysfunction. Namely, mice or rats exposed to diabetogenic diets that are rich in fat and/or sugar have been widely used since they develop memory impairment, especially in tasks that depend on hippocampal processing. Here we summarize main findings on brain energy metabolism alterations underlying dysfunction of neuronal and glial cells promoted by diet-induced metabolic syndrome that progresses to a T2D phenotype.

Metabolite concentration changes associated with positive and negative BOLD responses in the human visual cortex: A functional MRS study at 7 Tesla

Negative blood oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD) signal observed during task execution in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can be caused by different mechanisms, such as a blood-stealing effect or neuronal deactivation. Electrophysiological recordings showed that neuronal deactivation underlies the negative BOLD observed in the occipital lobe during visual stimulation. In this study, the metabolic demand of such a response was studied by measuring local metabolite concentration changes during a visual checkerboard stimulation using functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (fMRS) at 7 Tesla. The results showed increases of glutamate and lactate concentrations during the positive BOLD response, consistent with previous fMRS studies. In contrast, during the negative BOLD response, decreasing concentrations of glutamate, lactate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were found, suggesting a reduction of glycolytic and oxidative metabolic demand below the baseline. Additionally, the respective changes of the BOLD signal, glutamate and lactate concentrations of both groups suggest that a local increase of inhibitory activity might occur during the negative BOLD response.

Diurnal regulation of the function of the rat brain glutamate dehydrogenase by acetylation and its dependence on thiamine administration

Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) is essential for the brain function and highly regulated, according to its role in metabolism of the major excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. Here we show a diurnal pattern of the GDH acetylation in rat brain, associated with specific regulation of GDH function. Mornings the acetylation levels of K84 (near the ADP site), K187 (near the active site), and K503 (GTP-binding) are highly correlated. Evenings the acetylation levels of K187 and K503 decrease, and the correlations disappear. These daily variations in the acetylation adjust the GDH responses to the enzyme regulators. The adjustment is changed when the acetylation of K187 and K503 shows no diurnal variations, as in the rats after a high dose of thiamine. The regulation of GDH function by acetylation is confirmed in a model system, where incubation of the rat brain GDH with acetyl-CoA changes the enzyme responses to GTP and ADP, decreasing the activity at subsaturating concentrations of substrates. Thus, the GDH acetylation may support cerebral homeostasis, stabilizing the enzyme function during diurnal oscillations of the brain metabolome. Daytime and thiamine interact upon the (de)acetylation of GDH in vitro. Evenings the acetylation of GDH from control animals increases both IC₅₀ ^GTP and EC₅₀ ^ADP . Mornings the acetylation of GDH from thiamine-treated animals increases the enzyme IC₅₀ ^GTP . Molecular mechanisms of the GDH regulation by acetylation of specific residues are proposed. For the first time, diurnal and thiamine-dependent changes in the allosteric regulation of the brain GDH due to the enzyme acetylation are shown.

Cannabinoid Signaling Recruits Astrocytes to Modulate Presynaptic Function in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

Circadian rhythms are 24-h cycles in physiology regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the brain, where daily cues act on SCN neurons to alter clock timing. Cannabinoid signaling modulates SCN neuronal activity, although the mechanism remains unclear. We propose that neuronal activity generates endocannabinoid release, activating astrocyte Ca²⁺ signaling, which releases adenosine and activates adenosine-1 receptors (A1Rs) on the presynaptic axon terminals, decreasing GABA release. We demonstrated, in mice, that activation of cannabinoid-1 receptors (CB1R) with the agonist WIN 55,212-2 (WIN) reduced the miniature GABA receptor-mediated postsynaptic current (mGPSC) frequency by a mechanism that requires astrocytes and A1R. WIN activated an intracellular Ca²⁺ signaling pathway in astrocytes. Activating this intracellular Ca²⁺ pathway with designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) also decreased the mGPSC frequency and required A1R activation. The frequency of spontaneous Ca²⁺ events, including those induced by depolarization of a postsynaptic SCN neuron, was reduced by blocking CB1R activation with AM251, demonstrating neuronal endocannabinoid signaling modulates astrocytic Ca²⁺ signaling in the SCN. Finally, daytime application of WIN or adenosine phase advanced the molecular circadian clock, indicating that this cannabinoid signaling pathway is vital for the timing of circadian rhythms.

The solute carrier transporters and the brain: Physiological and pharmacological implications

Solute carriers (SLCs) are the largest family of transmembrane transporters that determine the exchange of various substances, including nutrients, ions, metabolites, and drugs across biological membranes. To date, the presence of about 287 SLC genes have been identified in the brain, among which mutations or the resultant dysfunctions of 71 SLC genes have been reported to be correlated with human brain disorders. Although increasing interest in SLCs have focused on drug development, SLCs are currently still under-explored as drug targets, especially in the brain. We summarize the main substrates and functions of SLCs that are expressed in the brain, with an emphasis on selected SLCs that are important physiologically, pathologically, and pharmacologically in the blood-brain barrier, astrocytes, and neurons. Evidence suggests that a fraction of SLCs are regulated along with the occurrences of brain disorders, among which epilepsy, neurodegenerative diseases, and autism are representative. Given the review of SLCs involved in the onset and procession of brain disorders, we hope these SLCs will be screened as promising drug targets to improve drug delivery to the brain.

Glial mitochondrial function and dysfunction in health and neurodegeneration

Mitochondria play essential metabolic roles in neural cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction has profound effects on the brain. In primary mitochondrial diseases, mutations that impair specific oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) proteins or OXPHOS assembly factors lead to isolated biochemical defects and a heterogeneous group of clinical phenotypes, including mitochondrial encephalopathies. A broader defect of OXPHOS function, due to mutations in proteins involved in mitochondrial DNA maintenance, mitochondrial biogenesis, or mitochondrial tRNAs can also underlie severe mitochondrial encephalopathies. While primary mitochondrial dysfunction causes rare genetic forms of neurological disorders, secondary mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in the pathophysiology of some of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Many studies have investigated mitochondrial function and dysfunction in bulk central nervous system (CNS) tissue. However, the interpretation of these studies has been often complicated by the extreme cellular heterogeneity of the CNS, which includes many different types of neurons and glial cells. Because neurons are especially dependent on OXPHOS for ATP generation, mitochondrial dysfunction is thought to be directly involved in cell autonomous neuronal demise. Despite being metabolically more flexible than neurons, glial mitochondria also play an essential role in the function of the CNS, and have adapted specific metabolic and mitochondrial features to support their diversity of functions. This review analyzes our current understanding and the gaps in knowledge of mitochondrial properties of glia and how they affect neuronal functions, in health and disease.

In vivo 13 C and 1 H-[13 C] MRS studies of neuroenergetics and neurotransmitter cycling, applications to neurological and psychiatric disease and brain cancer

In the last 25 years ¹³ C MRS has been established as the only noninvasive method for measuring glutamate neurotransmission and cell specific neuroenergetics. Although technically and experimentally challenging ¹³ C MRS has already provided important new information on the relationship between neuroenergetics and neuronal function, the high energy cost of brain function in the resting state and the role of altered neuroenergetics and neurotransmitter cycling in disease. In this paper we review the metabolic and neurotransmitter pathways that can be measured by ¹³ C MRS and key findings on the linkage between neuroenergetics, neurotransmitter cycling, and brain function. Applications of ¹³ C MRS to neurological and psychiatric disease as well as brain cancer are reviewed. Recent technological developments that may help to overcome spatial resolution and brain coverage limitations of ¹³ C MRS are discussed.

Metabolic constraints on synaptic learning and memory

Dendritic spines, the carriers of long-term memory, occupy a small fraction of cortical space, and yet they are the major consumers of brain metabolic energy. What fraction of this energy goes for synaptic plasticity, correlated with learning and memory? It is estimated here based on neurophysiological and proteomic data for rat brain that, depending on the level of protein phosphorylation, the energy cost of synaptic plasticity constitutes a small fraction of the energy used for fast excitatory synaptic transmission, typically 4.0-11.2%. Next, this study analyzes a metabolic cost of new learning and its memory trace in relation to the cost of prior memories, using a class of cascade models of synaptic plasticity. It is argued that these models must contain bidirectional cyclic motifs, related to protein phosphorylation, to be compatible with basic thermodynamic principles. For most investigated parameters longer memories generally require proportionally more energy to store. The exceptions are the parameters controlling the speed of molecular transitions (e.g., ATP-driven phosphorylation rate), for which memory lifetime per invested energy can increase progressively for longer memories. Furthermore, in general, a memory trace decouples dynamically from a corresponding synaptic metabolic rate such that the energy expended on new learning and its memory trace constitutes in most cases only a small fraction of the baseline energy associated with prior memories. Taken together, these empirical and theoretical results suggest a metabolic efficiency of synaptically stored information.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Learning and memory involve a sequence of molecular events in dendritic spines called synaptic plasticity. These events are physical in nature and require energy, which has to be supplied by ATP molecules. However, our knowledge of the energetics of these processes is very poor. This study estimates the empirical energy cost of synaptic plasticity and considers theoretically a metabolic rate of learning and its memory trace in a class of cascade models of synaptic plasticity.

Differential Metabolism of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids in Differentiated Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Astrocytes

Medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) ketogenic diets increase ketone bodies, which are believed to act as alternative energy substrates in the injured brain. Octanoic (C8:0) and decanoic (C10:0) acids, which produce ketone bodies through β-oxidation, are used as part of MCT ketogenic diets. Although the ketogenic role of MCT is well-established, it remains unclear how the network metabolism underlying β-oxidation of these medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) differ. We aim to elucidate basal β-oxidation of these commonly used MCFA at the cellular level. Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived (iPSC) astrocytes were incubated with [U-¹³C]-C8:0 or [U-¹³C]-C10:0, and the fractional enrichments (FE) of the derivatives were used for metabolic flux analysis. Data indicate higher extracellular concentrations and faster secretion rates of β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB) and acetoacetate (AcAc) with C8:0 than C10:0, and an important contribution from unlabeled substrates. Flux analysis indicates opposite direction of metabolic flux between the MCFA intermediates C6:0 and C8:0, with an important contribution of unlabeled sources to the elongation in the C10:0 condition, suggesting different β-oxidation pathways. Finally, larger intracellular glutathione concentrations and secretions of 3-OH-C10:0 and C6:0 were measured in C10:0-treated astrocytes. These findings reveal MCFA-specific ketogenic properties. Our results provide insights into designing different MCT-based ketogenic diets to target specific health benefits.

JM-20 protects memory acquisition and consolidation on scopolamine model of cognitive impairment

OBJECTIVE

JM-20, a novel hybrid synthetic molecule, has been reported to have antioxidant, mitoprotective, anti-excitotoxic, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the neuroprotective effect of JM-20 against memory impairment in preclinical AD-like models has not been analyzed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential neuroprotection of JM-20 that preserves essential memory process from cholinergic dysfunction and other molecular damages.

METHODS

The effects of JM-20 on scopolamine (1 mg/kg)-induced cognitive disorders were studied. Male Wistar rats (220-230 g) were treated with JM-20 and/or scopolamine, and behavioral tasks were performed. The AChE activity, superoxide dismutase activity, catalase activity, MDA and T-SH level on brain tissue were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Mitochondrial functionality parameters were measured after behavioral tests. Histological analyses on hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were processed with hematoxylin and eosin, and neuronal and axonal damage were determined.

RESULTS

The behavioral, biochemical and histopathological studies revealed that oral pre-treatment with JM-20 (8 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the scopolamine-induced memory deficits, mitochondrial malfunction, oxidative stress, and prevented AChE hyperactivity probably due to specific inhibition of AChE enzyme. It was also observed marked histological protection on hippocampal and prefrontal-cortex regions.

CONCLUSIONS

The multimodal action of this molecule could mediate the memory protection here observed and suggest that it may modulate different pathological aspects of memory deficits associated with AD in humans.

Brain Glucose Metabolism: Integration of Energetics with Function

Glucose is the long-established, obligatory fuel for brain that fulfills many critical functions, including ATP production, oxidative stress management, and synthesis of neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and structural components. Neuronal glucose oxidation exceeds that in astrocytes, but both rates increase in direct proportion to excitatory neurotransmission; signaling and metabolism are closely coupled at the local level. Exact details of neuron-astrocyte glutamate-glutamine cycling remain to be established, and the specific roles of glucose and lactate in the cellular energetics of these processes are debated. Glycolysis is preferentially upregulated during brain activation even though oxygen availability is sufficient (aerobic glycolysis). Three major pathways, glycolysis, pentose phosphate shunt, and glycogen turnover, contribute to utilization of glucose in excess of oxygen, and adrenergic regulation of aerobic glycolysis draws attention to astrocytic metabolism, particularly glycogen turnover, which has a high impact on the oxygen-carbohydrate mismatch. Aerobic glycolysis is proposed to be predominant in young children and specific brain regions, but re-evaluation of data is necessary. Shuttling of glucose- and glycogen-derived lactate from astrocytes to neurons during activation, neurotransmission, and memory consolidation are controversial topics for which alternative mechanisms are proposed. Nutritional therapy and vagus nerve stimulation are translational bridges from metabolism to clinical treatment of diverse brain disorders.

Development of a Model to Test Whether Glycogenolysis Can Support Astrocytic Energy Demands of Na+, K+-ATPase and Glutamate-Glutamine Cycling, Sparing an Equivalent Amount of Glucose for Neurons

Recent studies of glycogen in brain have suggested a much more important role in brain energy metabolism and function than previously recognized, including findings of much higher than previously recognized concentrations, consumption at substantial rates compared with utilization of blood-borne glucose, and involvement in ion pumping and in neurotransmission and memory. However, it remains unclear how glycogenolysis is coupled to neuronal activity and provides support for neuronal as well as astroglial function. At present, quantitative aspects of glycogenolysis in brain functions are very difficult to assess due to its metabolic lability, heterogeneous distributions within and among cells, and extreme sensitivity to physiological stimuli. To begin to address this problem, the present study develops a model based on pathway fluxes, mass balance, and literature relevant to functions and turnover of pathways that intersect with glycogen mobilization. A series of equations is developed to describe the stoichiometric relationships between net glycogen consumption that is predominantly in astrocytes with the rate of the glutamate-glutamine cycle, rates of astrocytic and neuronal glycolytic and oxidative metabolism, and the energetics of sodium/potassium pumping in astrocytes and neurons during brain activation. Literature supporting the assumptions of the model is discussed in detail. The overall conclusion is that astrocyte glycogen metabolism is primarily coupled to neuronal function via fueling glycolytically pumping of Na⁺ and K⁺ and sparing glucose for neuronal oxidation, as opposed to previous proposals of coupling neurotransmission via glutamate transport, lactate shuttling, and neuronal oxidation of lactate.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Schizophrenia: Evidence for Glutamatergic Dysfunction and Impaired Energy Metabolism

In the past couple of decades, major efforts were made to increase reliability of metabolic assessments by magnetic resonance methods. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been valuable for providing in vivo evidence and investigating biomarkers in neuropsychiatric disorders, namely schizophrenia. Alterations of glutamate and glutamine levels in brains of schizophrenia patients relative to healthy subjects are generally interpreted as markers of glutamatergic dysfunction. However, only a small fraction of MRS-detectable glutamate is involved in neurotransmission. Here we review and discuss brain metabolic processes that involve glutamate and that are likely to be implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders.