• Luc Pellerin.
• Département de Physiologie, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. Luc.Pellerin@unil.ch
• Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2008 Nov 1;11(6):701-5.

Purpose Of ReviewAlmost 15 years after its initial proposal, the astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle hypothesis still occupies the center stage in research on brain energetics. Recent developments have provided further evidence for its validity and have extended its application to different areas of neuroscience.Recent FindingsDescription of cell-specific metabolic characteristics have reinforced the view that a prominent conversion of glucose into lactate takes place in astrocytes, whereas neurons preferentially take up and oxidize lactate over glucose-derived pyruvate. Indeed, specific mechanisms are activated by glutamatergic activity to favor such a net lactate transfer between the two cell types. Moreover, demonstration in vivo of the existence and implication of the astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle hypothesis for particular neurophysiological processes is beginning to appear.SummaryBrain energetics has undertaken its revolution. A new concept based on metabolic compartmentalization between astrocytes and neurons is establishing itself as the leading paradigm that opens new perspectives in areas such as functional brain imaging and regulation of energy homeostasis.

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