White matter consists of bundles of long axons that convey information between neural circuits between different brain regions within and between brain hemispheres. These long axons are wrapped with many layers of lipid-rich membranes of oligodendrocytes (a type of glial cell) and it is this ‘insulation’ that enables rapid propagation of signals over long distances. The axons in white matter consume high amounts of energy and their energy demand increases during extended physical exercise. In this episode Professor Carlos Matute talks about his interesting journey to become a neuroscientist and his fascinating discoveries concerning the function and dysfunction of oligodendrocyte neurobiology. He and his team recently provided evidence that the lipids in myelin are consumed by neurons in marathon runners during the event and then are replenished during their recovery. We also talk about how oligodendrocytes and axons in white matter are damaged by traumatic brain injuries, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and neurodegenerative disorders.

LINKS

About Carlos Matute

https://www.achucarro.org/director/carlos-matute/

White matter and marathon running

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12021653/pdf/42255_2025_Article_1244.pdf

Review articles

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10454078/pdf/ijms-24-12912.pdf

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4493393/pdf/fnana-09-00092.pdf