"... To examine the effect of glial K+ uptake, we used a model neuron equipped with Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Cl− conductances, ion pumps and ion exchangers, surrounded by interstitial space and glia. The glial membrane was either “passive”, incorporating only leak channels and an ion exchange pump, or it had rectifying K+ channels. We computed ion fluxes, concentration changes and osmotic volume changes. ... We conclude that voltage gated K+ currents can boost the effectiveness of the glial “potassium buffer” and that this buffer function is important even at moderate or low levels of excitation, but especially so in pathological states."
Model Type: Neuron or other electrically excitable cell; Electrogenic pump; Glia
Cell Type(s): Astrocyte
Currents: I Na,p; I Na,t; I T low threshold; I A; I K; I K,Ca; Na/Ca exchanger; Na/K pump
Receptors: NMDA
Transmitters: Ions
Model Concept(s): Epilepsy; Calcium dynamics; Sodium pump
Simulation Environment: NEURON
References:
Somjen GG, Kager H, Wadman WJ. (2008). Computer simulations of neuron-glia interactions mediated by ion flux. Journal of computational neuroscience. 25 [PubMed]