What gets oxidized during glycolysis?

A single carbon molecule of glucose is oxidized into two 3-carbon molecules of pyruvate during glycolysis. The direction in which pyruvate proceeds is then determined by the availability of oxygen and presence or absence of mitochondria within the cells. In cells containing mitochondria, pyruvate undergoes decarboxylation via pyruvate dehydrogenase complex to form Acetyl-CoA. In the absence of oxygen and in cells without a mitochondria, anaerobic glycolysis occurs. Pyruvate is converted to lactate and NADH is reoxidized to NAD+ via lactate dehydrogenase.