TY - JOUR
T1 - Expression of monocarboxylate transporter mRNAs in mouse brain
T2 - Support for a distinct role of lactate as an energy substrate for the neonatal vs. adult brain
AU - Pellerin, Luc
AU - Pellegri, Giovanni
AU - Martin, Jean Luc
AU - Magistretti, Pierre J.
PY - 1998/3/31
Y1 - 1998/3/31
N2 - Under particular circumstances like lactation and fasting, the blood- borne monocarboxylates acetoacetate, β-hydroxybutyrate, and lactate represent significant energy substrates for the brain. Their utilization is dependent on a transport system present on both endothelial cells forming the blood-brain barrier and on intraparenchymal brain cells. Recently, two monocarboxylate transporters, MCT1 and MCT2, have been cloned. We report here the characterization by Northern blot analysis and by in situ hybridization of the expression of MCT1 and MCT2 mRNAs in the mouse brain. In adults, both transporter mRNAs are highly expressed in the cortex, the hippocampus and the cerebellum. During development, a peak in the expression of both transporters occurs around postnatal day 15, declining rapidly by 30 days at levels observed in adults. Double-labeling experiments reveal that the expression of MCT1 mRNA in endothelial cells is highest at postnatal day 15 and is not detectable at adult stages. These results support the notion that monocarboxylates are important energy substrates for the brain at early postnatal stages and are consistent with the sharp decrease in blood-borne monocarboxylate utilization after weaning. In addition, the observation of a sustained intraparenchymal expression of monocarboxylate transporter mRNAs in adults, in face of the seemingly complete disappearance of their expression on endothelial cells, reinforces the view that an intercellular exchange of lactate occurs within the adult brain.
AB - Under particular circumstances like lactation and fasting, the blood- borne monocarboxylates acetoacetate, β-hydroxybutyrate, and lactate represent significant energy substrates for the brain. Their utilization is dependent on a transport system present on both endothelial cells forming the blood-brain barrier and on intraparenchymal brain cells. Recently, two monocarboxylate transporters, MCT1 and MCT2, have been cloned. We report here the characterization by Northern blot analysis and by in situ hybridization of the expression of MCT1 and MCT2 mRNAs in the mouse brain. In adults, both transporter mRNAs are highly expressed in the cortex, the hippocampus and the cerebellum. During development, a peak in the expression of both transporters occurs around postnatal day 15, declining rapidly by 30 days at levels observed in adults. Double-labeling experiments reveal that the expression of MCT1 mRNA in endothelial cells is highest at postnatal day 15 and is not detectable at adult stages. These results support the notion that monocarboxylates are important energy substrates for the brain at early postnatal stages and are consistent with the sharp decrease in blood-borne monocarboxylate utilization after weaning. In addition, the observation of a sustained intraparenchymal expression of monocarboxylate transporter mRNAs in adults, in face of the seemingly complete disappearance of their expression on endothelial cells, reinforces the view that an intercellular exchange of lactate occurs within the adult brain.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0032584084&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1073/pnas.95.7.3990
DO - 10.1073/pnas.95.7.3990
M3 - Article
C2 - 9520480
AN - SCOPUS:0032584084
SN - 0027-8424
VL - 95
SP - 3990
EP - 3995
JO - PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
JF - PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
IS - 7
ER -