Myelin is a fatty structure built by oligodendrocytes or Schwann cells that insulates and protects axons, allowing for efficient transmission of action potentials along them. In addition, at least in the CNS, myelin transports energy substrates on demand to axons fueling mitochondria to metabolically support fast signal propagation. This process is driven by activation of NMDA receptors in myelin/oligodendrocytes, and includes glucose uptake into these cells, glycolysis and lactate transport across myelin and axon membranes.
Lipids account for ca 80% of myelin content. Recent evidence support the idea that myelin lipids may act as glial energy reserves when glucose is lacking. We examined the effects of running a marathon on the myelin content by MRI. In my presentation, I will show data illustrating myelin decrease upon marathon running in white matter. Notably, myelin levels robustly recover within two months after the marathon. These results suggest that myelin use and replenishment is an unprecedented form of metabolic plasticity aimed to maintain brain function during extreme conditions. It remains to be clarified whether myelin lipids are used for fueling brain function in common life tasks.
Supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, CIBERNED, and Gobierno Vasco.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
Carlos Matute studied physics and got his PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Zaragoza. He did postdoctoral stays with Michel Cuénod/Peter Streit at the Brain Research Institute (University of Zürich) and with Ricardo Miledi at the Department of Psychobiology (University of California, Irvine). He also had sabbatical stays at Max Plank Institute for Biophysical Chemistry (Göttingen, Germany) and at Einstein College of Medicine (New York). Founder and Director of Achucarro Basque Center of Neuroscience for nine years, he is a member of the Academia Europaea, and President Elect of the Spanish Society for Neuroscience.
His scientific-life interests are linked to the biology of glial cells in health and disease. In particular, his team has uncovered how neurotransmitters play a game of life and death with oligodendrocytes and its relevance to multiple sclerosis, stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. Lately, the work of his laboratory is focused on uncovering new roles for myelin.
