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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 May 9.
Published in final edited form as: Neuron. 2016 Jun 9;91(1):119–132. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.05.016

Figure 7. Schematic Depiction of Oligodendroglial NMDA Receptor Signaling.

Figure 7.

Working model in which axonal electrical activity in developing white matter tracts constitutes a glutamatergic signal for the surrounding OPC/oligodendrocytes/myelin compartments (1). After myelination, NMDA receptors associated with the internodal/paranodal membrane respond to axonal glutamate release as a surrogate marker for increased axonal electrical activity and energy needs, causing (2) the incorporation of additional glucose transporters into oligodendrocytes and myelin and the adaptation of glucose uptake (feed-forward regulation). Glycolysis products (3) are initially used for ATP and lipid synthesis (4). Later, mature oligodendrocytes release lactate (or pyruvate) to fuel the axonal compartment (5) for mitochondrial ATP production (6). Regulation of oligodendroglial glucose uptake by axonal energy needs could help prevent abnormal accumulation of lactate. The possible effect of glutamate on glucose transporters on astrocytes is not shown.