How much oxygen our brain needs?

Science & Tech 17:46 05.07.2020

Our brain needs a disproportionate amount of energy than its body mass. The aerobic metabolic processes produce this energy that consumes considerable amounts of oxygen, EDNews.net reports citing Tech Explorist.

Hence, the oxygen concentrations in the brain are an important parameter that influences the function of nerve cells and glial cells. Although, how much oxygen is consumed in the brain and how this is related to neuronal activity remains obscure.

LMU neurobiologists Hans Straka, Suzan Özugur, and Lars Kunz have now succeeded for the first time in directly measuring this in the intact brain and correlating it with nerve cell activity.

In an already established animal model—tadpoles of the clawed frog Xenopus laevis—the scientists used electrochemical sensors to determine the concentration of oxygen in the brain and one of the brain ventricles. They were able to precisely control the amount of oxygen available to the brain as well as inhibit nerve cell activity with the help of pharmacological substances. Using the example of nerve cells that control eye movements, the scientists succeeded in directly recording the relationship between oxygen consumption and nerve cell activity.

LMU neurobiologist Hans Straka said, “We have found that the brain is anoxic in a normal air-saturated environment, which means that no oxygen can be measured. The complete oxygen was, therefore, immediately used by the cells to synthesize energy-rich substances. If more than twice the atmospheric oxygen concentration was available, the energy metabolism was saturated, and oxygen was abundantly present in the brain.”

“We were also able to show that during normal operation, only about 50 percent of the oxygen is used for nerve cell activity. So the other 50 percent is required for glial cells and for maintaining the basic metabolic rate of nerve cells. However, nerve cells with increased activity consume more oxygen.”

To understand how information is processed in the brain, knowledge of the relationship between oxygen availability and brain activity is essential. The results of this study offer detailed insights into this. Also, they are an essential basis for further investigations of the brain’s energy balance in future experiments and for measuring oxygen consumption for various nerve cell functions.

IEPF issued a statement regarding Azerbaijani children at the UN Human Rights Council

News line

Spain voices concern over Iran's suspension of cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog
23:35 03.07.2025
Pope Leo can play important role in improving US-North Korea ties, says Cardinal Lazzaro You
23:00 03.07.2025
UN rapporteur on occupied Palestinian territory says accountability needed over killings of aid-seekers in Gaza
22:35 03.07.2025
Gaza ceasefire proposal calls for release of 10 Israeli hostages, includes US assurances to end war Report
22:00 03.07.2025
Australian man dies from 'extremely rare' bat bite virus
21:30 03.07.2025
Armenia restarts constitutional reform talks
21:15 03.07.2025
Azerbaijani wrestler crowned European champion
21:00 03.07.2025
Azerbaijani boxer qualifies for World Cup semifinals
20:30 03.07.2025
Liverpool rejects Bayern Munich's approach for Diaz
20:00 03.07.2025
President Ilham Aliyev inspected site designated for Khankandi-Shusha cable car construction
19:35 03.07.2025
Presidents of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan review operations of Businesstex JV sewing factory in Khankandi
19:20 03.07.2025
Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan to attend 17th ECO Summit in Khankendi
19:15 03.07.2025
Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif begins visit to Azerbaijan
19:00 03.07.2025
Cyberattacks on Azerbaijani state bodies slightly rising
18:45 03.07.2025
Height of the Victory Arch in Khankandi to be 44 meters
18:15 03.07.2025
Nigerian minister to attend 17th ECO Summit in Khankandi
18:00 03.07.2025
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrives in Fuzuli district
17:45 03.07.2025
Opening ceremony of Khankandi Congress Center held
17:30 03.07.2025
China ready to sign nuclear-weapon-free zone treaty
17:15 03.07.2025
President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus arrives in Fuzuli district
17:00 03.07.2025
President Ilham Aliyev attends opening of Khankandi Business Center
16:45 03.07.2025
Turkish president to visit Khankandi on July 4
16:30 03.07.2025
Iran calls negotiations with European countries 'meaningless'
16:15 03.07.2025
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev receives Deputy Chairman of Turkmenistan’s Cabinet of Ministers in Khankandi
16:00 03.07.2025
Scorching European heatwave turns deadly in Spain, Italy and France
15:45 03.07.2025
National Defense University hosts training as part of NATO programme
15:30 03.07.2025
3 killed, 16 injured in mass shooting at Chicago nightclub
15:20 03.07.2025
China is not US, and challenges to Europe won’t come from Beijing: Top diplomat
15:15 03.07.2025
Russia restricts access to Azerbaijani news websites
15:00 03.07.2025
2 killed, 11 injured in Russian strikes in Ukraine's Poltava
14:45 03.07.2025
Trump may arm Israel with US B-2s, bunker busters
14:30 03.07.2025
Foundation stone laid for Khankandi Railway and Bus Terminal Complex
14:20 03.07.2025
Baku, Kabul mull development of Lapis Lazuli corridor
14:15 03.07.2025
Azerbaijani deputy FM mulls areas of cooperation with Afghan counterpart
14:00 03.07.2025
Israeli president receives new ambassador to Azerbaijan
13:50 03.07.2025
5US lifts chip software curbs on China amid trade truce
13:45 03.07.2025
Tajikistan and Saudi Fund for Development set to expand project financing
13:30 03.07.2025
S. Korean President vows to improve relations with N. Korea based on cooperation with US
13:10 03.07.2025
Politico: Ukraine expects Europe to buy weapons for it from US
13:00 03.07.2025
State Department: Bringing Russia-Ukraine war to end remains Trump's priority
12:45 03.07.2025
Hamısı