Schematic description of ATP synthesis strategies in the cortex at different developmental stages. Top left: at E14.5, neural progenitor cells (NPCs) produce intermediate progenitors and migrating immature excitatory neurons, generating the different cortical layers. Bottom left: for ATP synthesis, NPCs rely on anaerobic glycolysis, a cytoplasmic biochemical process converting glucose into lactate. Top middle: perinatally, the cortical network, mainly consisting of maturing excitatory and inhibitory neurons, undergoes significant refinement. Glial cells are detectable but immature. Bottom middle: the metabolic landscape of maturing neurons is largely unknown. Top right: a mature cortical network, including pyramidal (green), inhibitory neurons (blue) and glial cells (astrocytes [purple], oligodendrocytes [orange] and microglia [pink]). Bottom right: mature neurons utilize glucose to produce ATP via aerobic glycolysis. Since endogenous pyruvate is insufficient to meet energy demand, neurons depend on metabolic support by glial cells (TCA, tricarboxylic acid cycle; OXPHOS, oxidative phosphorylation).
