"Neuronal stimulation causes ~30% shrinkage of the extracellular space
(ECS) between neurons and surrounding astrocytes in grey and white
matter under experimental conditions. Despite its possible
implications for a proper understanding of basic aspects of potassium
clearance and astrocyte function, the phenomenon remains
unexplained. Here we present a dynamic model that accounts for current
experimental data related to the shrinkage phenomenon in wild-type as
well as in gene knockout individuals.
...
Considering the current
state of knowledge, the model framework appears sufficiently detailed
and constrained to guide future key experiments and pave the way for
more comprehensive astroglia–neuron interaction models for normal as
well as pathophysiological situations.
"
Reference:
1 .
Østby I, Øyehaug L, Einevoll GT, Nagelhus EA, Plahte E, Zeuthen T, Lloyd CM, Ottersen OP, Omholt SW (2009) Astrocytic mechanisms explaining neural-activity-induced shrinkage of extraneuronal space. PLoS Comput Biol 5:e1000272 [PubMed]
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