Ischemic tolerance in pre-myelinated white matter: the role of astrocyte glycogen in brain pathology.

Robert Fern*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In isolated white matter, ischemic tolerance changes dramatically in the period immediately before the onset of myelination. In the absence of an extrinsic energy source, postnatal day 0 to 2 (P0 to P2) white matter axons are here shown to maintain excitability for over twice as long as axons >P2, a differential that was dependent on glycogen metabolism. Prolonged withdrawal of extrinsic energy supply tended to spare axons in zones around astrocytes, which are shown to be the sole repository for glycogen particles in developing white matter. Analysis of mitochondrial volume fraction revealed that neither axons nor astrocytes had a low metabolic rate in neonatal white matter, while oligodendroglia at older ages had an elevated metabolism. The astrocyte population is established early in neural development, and exhibits reduced cell density as maturation progresses and white matter expands. The findings show that this event establishes the necessary conditions for ischemia sensitivity in white matter and indicates that astrocyte proximity may be significant for the survival of neuronal elements in conditions associated with compromised energy supply.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)951-958
Number of pages0
JournalJ Cereb Blood Flow Metab
Volume35
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2015

Keywords

  • Animals
  • Astrocytes
  • Axons
  • Brain
  • Brain Diseases
  • Brain Ischemia
  • Energy Metabolism
  • Female
  • Glycogen
  • Male
  • Myelin Sheath
  • Rats
  • White Matter

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Ischemic tolerance in pre-myelinated white matter: the role of astrocyte glycogen in brain pathology.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this