Lactate as a determinant of neuronal excitability, neuroenergetics and beyond

Over the last decades, lactate has emerged as important energy substrate for the brain fueling of neurons. A growing body of evidence now indicates that it is also a signaling molecule modulating neuronal excitability and activity as well as brain functions. In this review, we will briefly summarize how different cell types produce and release lactate. We will further describe different signaling mechanisms allowing lactate to fine-tune neuronal excitability and activity, and will finally discuss how these mechanisms could cooperate to modulate neuroenergetics and higher order brain functions both in physiological and pathological conditions.

Automated summary

In the past few decades, lactate has been recognized as an important energy substrate for the brain and a signaling molecule that modulates neuronal excitability and brain functions. This review provides a brief summary of how different cell types produce and release lactate, discusses the signaling mechanisms that allow lactate to fine-tune neuronal excitability and activity, and explores how these mechanisms cooperate to regulate neuroenergetics and higher order brain functions in both physiological and pathological conditions.