Lactate as a determinant of neuronal excitability, neuroenergetics and beyond.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing mechanistic pathways without systematic search or original human data
PubMed 37331530 · doi:10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106207
What was done
This narrative review summarizes literature regarding how distinct brain cell types generate and release lactate, the specific signaling mechanisms through which lactate fine-tunes neuronal excitability and activity, and how these pathways interact to influence neuroenergetics and higher-order brain function in physiological and pathological states.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative data or numerical outcomes. It describes a conceptual framework wherein lactate acts not merely as a passive energetic fuel for neurons, but as an active signaling entity directly involved in modulating neuronal excitability and overall brain circuitry.
Why it matters
It highlights the conceptual shift in neurobiology viewing lactate as a multifunctional signaling molecule that coordinates cellular energetics with neural activity, offering context for its roles in neurological health and disease.
Limits
The publication is a narrative review rather than a systematic review or primary empirical study. The abstract provides no quantitative metrics, search criteria, study count, or direct clinical data.
Cited by
- supports Lactate serves as a backup energy substrate for neurons in the brain.