Fig. 8

Astrocytes switch to fatty acid β oxidation for energy production after Aβ exposure. Lipid droplets (white asterisks) were observed in close proximity to mitochondria (white arrowhead) in Aβ-exposed astrocytes when TEM was performed (A). To further investigate fatty acid β oxidation the cells were treated with etomoxir, which inhibits the transport of fatty acids inside the mitochondria, or triacsin C, inhibiting the formation of neutral lipids from fatty acids (B). ATP levels were lowered when the astrocytes were exposed to both Aβ and triacsin C, suggesting that there is a switch to fatty acid β oxidation (C). Peroxisomes can also be a hub for fatty acid β oxidation and both the peroxisomal markers PMP70 and catalase show an increase 7 after the astrocytes were exposed to Aβ (D, E)