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Dynamic Variations of the Extracellular Space in the Central Nervous System

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Regulatory Mechanisms of Neuron to Vessel Communication in the Brain

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIH,volume 33))

Summary

During neuronal hyperactivity, including repetitive stimulations, applications of excitatory amino acids, epilepsy, spreading depressions and anoxia, large changes in the concentration of extracellular ion occur. Such changes are accompanied by changes in the extracellular space (ES) size, which can shrink by up to 60%. The changes in ES size can be rapid, localized and also rapidly reversible. Several mechanisms can account for the ES changes: KC1 uptake in glia, the glial spatial buffering, NaCl uptake into neurons, metabolic increase of the intracellular osmolarity. The observed ES changes may have a number a consequences, among which the maintenance of neuronal functioning appears to be the most important.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unité de Recherches sur l’Epilepsia, INSERM U 97, 2ter rue d’Alésia, 75014, Paris, France

    R. Pumain, J. Louvel & I. Kurcewicz

Authors
  1. R. Pumain
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  2. J. Louvel
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  3. I. Kurcewicz
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences II, University of Rome, Via Orazio Raimondo, 00173, Rome, Italy

    Fiorenzo Battaini  & Marco Trabucchi  & 

  2. Department of Pharmacobiology, University of Bari, Via Re David 4, 70100, Bari, Italy

    Stefano Govoni

  3. Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacology, University of Milano, Via Balzaretti, 9, 20133, Milano, Italy

    Maria Sandra Magnoni

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© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Pumain, R., Louvel, J., Kurcewicz, I. (1989). Dynamic Variations of the Extracellular Space in the Central Nervous System. In: Battaini, F., Govoni, S., Magnoni, M.S., Trabucchi, M. (eds) Regulatory Mechanisms of Neuron to Vessel Communication in the Brain. NATO ASI Series, vol 33. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-74152-4_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-74152-4_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-74154-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-74152-4

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