High Potassium Conductance in Astrocyte Endfeet

Abstract

The distribution of potassium conductance over the surface of freshly dissociated salamander astrocytes was determined by monitoring cell depolarizations evoked by focal increases in the extracellular potassium concentration. The specific potassium conductance of the endfoot processes of these cells was approximately tenfold higher than the conductance of other cell regions. This dramatically nonuniform conductance distribution may play an important role in the regulation of extracellular potassium levels by glia in the brain.