Recent behavioral findings of pathophysiological involvement of lactate in the central nervous system

Lactate was initially thought of as a fatigue substance. In recent years, however, lactate not only functions as an energy carrier and contributes to ATP production, but also its role as a signal transmitter has been attracting attention due to the identification of lactate receptors. Lactate is synthesized from glucose and glycogen through the glycolytic system. The central nervous system is a major organ of glucose metabolism and is rich in glycogen. Therefore, this review summarizes the recent findings on the contribution of lactate to the pathophysiology of the central nervous system. •Effects of lactate signaling on animal behavior.•Extracellular signals that activate lactate metabolism in astrocytes.•Effects of lactate signaling on neurons.