Potassium activity in leech neuropile glial cells changes with external potassium concentration.
The effect of the external K+ concentration on the intracellular K+ activity of neuropile glial cells and of sensory neurons in the central nervous system of the leech (Hirudo medicinalis L.) was determined directly with double-barreled ion-sensitive microelectrodes. As the external K+ concentration was raised, the intracellular K+ activity of the neuropile glial cells increased considerably, and was accompanied by the uptake and/or intracellular synthesis of an, as yet, unidentified substance. In contrast, the intracellular K+ activity of sensory neurons was unchanged when the external K+ concentration was increased. These neurons appeared not to accumulate a second substance.
D000818:Animals; D005724:Ganglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007865:Leeches; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
D011188:Potassium