Potassium Activity Measurements in the Microenvironment of the Central Nervous System of an Insect

Abstract

The activity of K+ and the control of influx of K+ into the extracellular space (micro-environment) of the central nervous system of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana, were measured directly with K+-sensitive microelectrodes. Using an in vivo preparation, it was possible to follow the effects of changes in K+ concentration in the medium bathing the nervous system on extracellular K+ and spontaneous and evoked neuronal activity. For bath K+ levels less than 31 mmol I−1, roughly corresponding to maximal haemolymph level in natural physiological conditions, the blood-brain barrier was found to be suitably efficient in restricting the influx of K+ and thereby allowing normal neural activity. At an external K+ concentration of 100 mmol I−1, however, the system was unable to maintain a sufficiently low extracellular K+ concentration and neuronal activity was suppressed. Influx of K+ from the external medium into the micro-environment occurred mainly in two phases. The early phase had a fast time course and probably reflects the physical aspects of the blood-brain barrier. The later, second phase was a slower process possibly corresponding to activation of metabolic ion pumps. The time courses of the functioning of these two systems and their control of the extra-axonal K+ activity are also discussed.