Metabolic flux analysis of neural cell metabolism in primary cultures

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biochemistry, Neuroscience

Brain energy metabolism results from a complex group of pathways and trafficking mechanisms between all cellular components in the brain, and importantly provides the energy for sustaining most brain functions. In recent decades, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and metabolic modelling tools allowed quantifying the main cerebral metabolic fluxes in vitro and in vivo. These investigations contributed significantly to elucidate neuro-glial metabolic interactions, cerebral metabolic compartmentation and the individual contribution of neurons and astrocytes to brain energetics. However, many issues in this field remain unclear and/or under debate.

To the financial support provided by Fundação para a Ciência a Tecnologia (SFRH/BD/29666/2006; PTDC/BIO/69407/2006) and to the Clinigene – NoE (LSHBCT2006- 010933). I further acknowledge the Norwegian Research Council for a fellowship that allowed me to perform part of my PhD work at NTNU, Norway.