Lactate’s behavioral switch in the brain: an in-silico model, 2023, Soltanzadeh et al

Abstract

It is well known that glucose serves as the main energy substrate for the brain, and emerging evidence emphasizes its involvement in both physiological processes and disease (traumatic brain injury, memory, epilepsy, etc.). Furthermore, the usefulness of mathematical modeling in deciphering underlying dynamics of the brain to investigate lactate roles and mechanisms of action has been well established.

Here, we analyze a novel mathematical model of brain lactate exchanges between four compartments: neurons, astrocytes, capillaries, and extracellular space. A system of four ordinary differential equations is proposed to explain interactions between these compartments. We first optimize the model’s parameters under normal, resting state conditions, and then use it to simulate changes linked to elevated arterial lactate.

Our results show that even though increased arterial lactate results in increased uptake by astrocytes and release to the extracellular space, it cannot strongly recover the initial drop in neuronal lactate concentration. Also, we show that the direction of lactate transport between the compartments is influenced by the maximum astrocyte production rate and the transport rate between astrocytes and extracellular space.

Paywalled with 'section snippets', https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S002251932300245X

 

That seems like useful, productive science. When some flaky health magazine article say "Lactic acid is bad! Drink bicarb!", someone can point to actual scientific knowledge about lactic acid in the body. It's also useful for such things as understanding ME. Theoretically, does lactic acid from physical exertion explain some ME symptom(s)? We can't answer that without this background understanding of lactic acid and astrocyte function. Good work.