%0 Journal Article %J Cell %D 2011 %T Astrocyte-neuron lactate transport is required for long-term memory formation. %A Suzuki, Akinobu %A Stern, Sarah A %A Bozdagi, Ozlem %A Huntley, George W %A Walker, Ruth H %A Magistretti, Pierre J %A Alberini, Cristina M %K Animals %K Arabinose %K Astrocytes %K Glycogen %K Hippocampus %K Imino Furanoses %K Lactic Acid %K Memory, Long-Term %K Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters %K Muscle Proteins %K Neurons %K Rats %K Sugar Alcohols %K Symporters %X

We report that, in the rat hippocampus, learning leads to a significant increase in extracellular lactate levels that derive from glycogen, an energy reserve selectively localized in astrocytes. Astrocytic glycogen breakdown and lactate release are essential for long-term but not short-term memory formation, and for the maintenance of long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic strength elicited in vivo. Disrupting the expression of the astrocytic lactate transporters monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) or MCT1 causes amnesia, which, like LTP impairment, is rescued by L-lactate but not equicaloric glucose. Disrupting the expression of the neuronal lactate transporter MCT2 also leads to amnesia that is unaffected by either L-lactate or glucose, suggesting that lactate import into neurons is necessary for long-term memory. Glycogenolysis and astrocytic lactate transporters are also critical for the induction of molecular changes required for memory formation, including the induction of phospho-CREB, Arc, and phospho-cofilin. We conclude that astrocyte-neuron lactate transport is required for long-term memory formation.

%B Cell %V 144 %P 810-23 %8 2011 Mar 4 %G eng %N 5 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21376239?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1016/j.cell.2011.02.018