Lactate preserves neuronal metabolism and function following antecedent recurrent hypoglycemia.

ABSTRACT: Hypoglycemia occurs frequently during intensive insulin therapy in patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and remains the single most important obstacle in achieving tight glycemic control. Using a rodent model of hypoglycemia, we demonstrated that exposure to antecedent recurrent hypoglycemia leads to adaptations of brain metabolism so that modest increments in circulating lactate allow the brain to function normally under acute hypoglycemic conditions. We characterized 3 major factors underlying this effect. First, we measured enhanced transport of lactate both into as well as out of the brain that resulted in only a small increase of its contribution to total brain oxidative capacity, suggesting that it was not the major fuel. Second, we observed a doubling of the glucose contrib

SUBMITTER: Herzog RI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3638906 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature