Dynamic Energy Supply for Firing Nerve Fibers in the Brain
Brain function depends on the swift movement of electrical signals along axons, the long extensions of nerve cells that connect billions of brain cells. The nerve fibers are insulated by a fatty layer called myelin, which is produced by specialized cells called oligodendrocytes. These cells wrap around and insulate nerve fibers ensuring the rapid and efficient transmission of signals that is essential for brain function.
Oligodendrocytes sense and respond to the electrical signals. “We found that oligodendrocytes not only detect the signals from active nerve fibers, but also respond to them by immediately accelerating their consumption of glucose, a primary energy source,” says Saab. In this way, the oligodendrocytes deliver energy-rich molecules to the rapidly firing axons to support their dynamic energy needs.
To understand how electrically active axons communicate with their surrounding oligodendrocytes, the researchers studied the mouse optic nerve, an ideal pathway for stimulating and monitoring the electrical activity of myelinated axons.
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