When oxygen and glucose levels drop, brain cells resort to which metabolism to stay alive?

When oxygen and glucose levels drop, brain cells resort to which metabolism to stay alive?

• A. Aerobic Metabolism
• B. Lipid Metabolism
• C. Anaerobic Metabolism
• D. Protein Metabolism

Answer: (C)

When oxygen and glucose are scarce, brain cells switch to anaerobic metabolism to keep producing ATP. Anaerobic glycolysis can proceed without oxygen, converting glucose to pyruvate and then to lactate, which regenerates NAD+ so glycolysis can continue. This provides a small amount of energy—about 2 ATP per glucose—and buys time, but it’s inefficient and leads to lactic acid buildup. Lipid metabolism and protein metabolism aren’t used for quick energy in this acute hypoxic state, as they depend on oxygen or aren’t suited for rapid ATP production in the brain.

When oxygen and glucose are scarce, brain cells switch to anaerobic metabolism to keep producing ATP. Anaerobic glycolysis can proceed without oxygen, converting glucose to pyruvate and then to lactate, which regenerates NAD+ so glycolysis can continue. This provides a small amount of energy—about 2 ATP per glucose—and buys time, but it’s inefficient and leads to lactic acid buildup. Lipid metabolism and protein metabolism aren’t used for quick energy in this acute hypoxic state, as they depend on oxygen or aren’t suited for rapid ATP production in the brain.