During afterdischarges in the young rat in vivo extracellular potassium is not elevated above adult levels.
Studies have suggested that in the immature brain an unusually high ceiling level for potassium may lead to an increased propensity for seizures. In these experiments, the peak levels of extracellular potassium in the hippocampus in vivo were recorded in immature rats 10-27 days old and compared to levels reached in adults. There was no difference in the peak level of potassium attained during an afterdischarge in any of the age groups tested.
Stringer
J L
JL
Department of Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. janets@bcm.tmc.edu
Lothman
E W
EW
D000818:Animals; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D011188:Potassium