Metabolism sets neuronal development pace

The pace of neuronal development varies between species, and the relatively slow development of the human brain may help allow its exceptional complexity. Iwata et al. propose that the pace of neuronal development depends on the rate of metabolic activity in mitochondria. Human and mouse neurons exhibited distinct paces of development in culture correlated with the tricarboxylic acid cycle and oxidative activity in mitochondria. Manipulations to increase oxygen consumption rates and tricarboxylic acid cycle activity in human cells increased the rate of neuronal development. Slowing metabolic rates in mouse neurons slowed neuronal maturation. Thus, metabolic rates in mitochondria appear to somehow help set the speed of neuronal development.