Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism
-
J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. · Feb 2015
ReviewLactate transport and signaling in the brain: potential therapeutic targets and roles in body-brain interaction.
Lactate acts as a 'buffer' between glycolysis and oxidative metabolism. In addition to being exchanged as a fuel by the monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) between cells and tissues with different glycolytic and oxidative rates, lactate may be a 'volume transmitter' of brain signals. According to some, lactate is a preferred fuel for brain metabolism. ⋯ The localization and function of HCAR1 and the three MCTs (MCT1, MCT2, and MCT4) expressed in brain constitute the focus of this review. They are possible targets for new therapeutic drugs and interventions. The author proposes that lactate actions in the brain through MCTs and the lactate receptor underlie part of the favorable effects on the brain resulting from physical exercise.