Neural Activity Triggers Neuronal Oxidative Metabolism Followed by Astrocytic Glycolysis

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1096485
• Publication Date: 2004-07-01T22:48:58Z
• Authors: Karl A. Kasischke; Harshad D. Vishwa...; Patricia J. Fisher; Warren R. Zipfel; Watt W. Webb
• Keywords: Premovement neuronal activity; Oxidative metabolism

We have found that two-photon fluorescence imaging of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) provides the sensitivity and spatial three-dimensional resolution to resolve metabolic signatures in processes astrocytes neurons deep highly scattering brain tissue slices. This functional reveals spatiotemporal partitioning glycolytic oxidative metabolism between during focal neural activity establishes a unifying hypothesis for neurometabolic coupling which early is eventually sustained by late activation astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle. Our model integrates existing views energy accord with known macroscopic physiological changes vivo.