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- Title
How expensive is the astrocyte?
- Authors
Barros, LF
- Abstract
The energy cost of information processing is thought to be chiefly neuronal, with a minor fraction attributed to glial cells. However, there is compelling evidence that astrocytes capture synaptic K+ using their Na+/K+ ATPase, and not solely through Kir4.1 channels as was once thought. When this active buffering is taken into account, the cost of astrocytes rises by >200%. Gram-per-gram, astrocytes turn out to be as expensive as neurons. This conclusion is supported by 3D reconstruction of the neuropil showing similar mitochondrial densities in neurons and astrocytes, by cell-specific transcriptomics and proteomics, and by the rates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Possible consequences for reactive astrogliosis and brain disease are discussed.
- Publication
Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism, 2022, Vol 42, Issue 5, p738
- ISSN
0271-678X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/0271678X221077343