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Nature 456, 715-716 (11 December 2008) | doi:10.1038/456715a; Published online 10 December 2008
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Gastroenterologist
- Gundersen Lutheran Health System
- La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA
Neuropathology Assistant or Associate Research Professor
- Indiana University School of Medicine
- Indiana, USA
Neuroscience: Brain power
Catherine N. Hall1 & David Attwell1
Abstract
The brain relies on blood to supply oxygen and glucose for energy. Surprisingly, neuronal activity, acting via supporting cells called astrocytes, can increase or decrease blood flow depending on whether oxygen levels are low or high.
The air entering our lungs contains 21% oxygen, and by the time the oxygen reaches our brain this value has fallen to 4%. Yet physiological experiments on isolated brain tissue traditionally use solutions containing 95% oxygen.
- Catherine N. Hall and David Attwell are in the Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
Email: d.attwell@ucl.ac.uk
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