Fig. 2

C8 and C10 stimulate mitochondrial respiration in cultured astrocytes via distinct mechanisms. A Cultured astrocytes were provided C8, C10 or the combination and the mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was assessed. The astrocytes were pre-incubated with the MCFAs (200 µM) for 1 h in addition to 2.5 mM d-glucose. B Seahorse XFe96 assay overview. During the assay three compounds were injected: (1) the ATP synthase inhibitor oligomycin A, (2) the mitochondrial uncoupler FCCP, (3) the electron transport chain inhibitors rotenone and antimycin A. From the Seahorse assay multiple respiratory parameters can be assessed: non-stimulated OCR (Basal), mitochondrial proton leak, OCR related to ATP production (ATP prod.), maximal uncoupled OCR (uncoupled) and the OCR unrelated to mitochondrial processes (non-mitochondrial). The non-mitochodrial OCR was subtracted from all data points prior to analysis. C–F Respiratory parameters of cultured astrocytes provided C8 (red bars), C10 (orange bars) or the combination (yellow bars). Data is presented as OCR, relative to the OCR of glucose alone (grey bars, control)). C8: octanoic acid. C10: decanoic acid. Mean ± SEM, n = 8 from individual batches of cultures, repeated measures 1-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc test, *p < 0.05