Lactate may protect neurons following acute trauma

A research team from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL; Switzerland) has discovered an association between the production of lactate and the protection of neurons against excitotoxicity following trauma such as stroke or spinal cord injury. The findings were published in Scientific Reports recently. Subsequent to acute trauma, neurons are subjected to excessive stimulation from NMDA receptors which interact with glutamate, resulting in a build-up of calcium ions and triggering toxic biochemical pathways that lead to cell damage or death. These receptors are a major medical research focus due to their links with a variety of neurological disorders such as...