Food for thought: Impact of metabolism on neuronal excitability

• Published in: Experimental cell research 2017-11, Vol.360 (1), p.41-46
• Main Authors: Katsu-Jiménez, Yurika, Alves, Renato M.P., Giménez-Cassina, Alfredo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Energy Metabolism; Epilepsy; Humans; Ketone bodies; Lactate; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Metabolism; Nervous System Diseases - metabolism; Nervous System Diseases - pathology; Neuronal excitability; Neurons - metabolism; Neurons - pathology; Synaptic Transmission - physiology
• ISSN: 0014-4827; 1090-2422; 1090-2422
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2017.03.002

Neuronal excitability is a highly demanding process that requires high amounts of energy and needs to be exquisitely regulated. For this reason, brain cells display active energy metabolism to support their activity. Independently of their roles as energy substrates, compelling evidence shows that the nature of the fuels that neurons use contribute to fine-tune neuronal excitability. Crosstalk of neurons with glial populations also plays a prominent role in shaping metabolic flow in the brain. In this review, we provide an overview on how different carbon substrates and metabolic pathways impact neurotransmission, and the potential implications for neurological disorders in which neuronal excitability is deregulated, such as epilepsy. •Neuronal excitability requires large amounts of energy.•Glucose is the main energy fuel of the brain,•Brain cells may use alternative substrates.•The use of alternative substrates has profound effects on neuronal excitability.•The control mechanisms of neuronal excitability by energy fuels are highly diverse.