Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation01:19

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

A postsynaptic neuron usually receives numerous impulses from several other presynaptic neurons. The axon hillock of the postsynaptic neuron integrates all these signals and determines the likelihood of firing an action potential.
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.
Voltage-gated Ion Channels01:26

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

Voltage-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that open and close in response to changes in the membrane potential. They are present on the membranes of all electrically excitable cells such as neurons, heart, and muscle cells.
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...
Voltage-gated Ion Channels01:26

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

Voltage-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that open and close in response to changes in the membrane potential. They are present on the membranes of all electrically excitable cells such as neurons, heart, and muscle cells.
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators

Ezocgabine or retigabine, an antiepileptic drug of remarkable efficacy, has revolutionized the management of seizures. It is a potassium channel activator, explicitly targeting the family of Q subtype potassium channels. It enhances the transmembrane potassium currents, regulating neuronal excitability. This action stabilizes the resting membrane potential, a pivotal factor in mitigating the hyperexcitability that characterizes epilepsy.
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

Non-gated Ion Channels

Ion channels are specialized proteins on the plasma membrane that allow charged ions to pass down their electrochemical gradient. Their main function is to maintain the membrane potential which is critical for cell viability. These channels are either gated or non-gated and can transport more than a thousand ions within milliseconds for the cellular event to occur.
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.
Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

Non-gated Ion Channels

Ion channels are specialized proteins on the plasma membrane that allow charged ions to pass down their electrochemical gradient. Their main function is to maintain the membrane potential which is critical for cell viability. These channels are either gated or non-gated and can transport more than a thousand ions within milliseconds for the cellular event to occur.
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Endothelial Arf6 sustains electrical signaling and cerebral blood flow in mice through PIP<sub>2</sub>-dependent activation of Kir2.1 channels.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Electromechanical Dynamics and Myogenic Responses in Cerebral Smooth Muscle Cells and Capillary Pericytes.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Electro-Calcium uncoupling precedes neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Endothelial Arf6 sustains capillary electrical signaling and cerebral blood flow through PIP<sub>2</sub> regeneration and activation of Kir2.1 channels.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Adenosine and acute low oxygen conditions suppress urinary bladder contractility through the activation of adenosine 2B receptors and large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels.

The Journal of physiology·2025
Same author

Endothelial Trauma Depends on Surface Charge and Extracellular Calcium Levels.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Making, Testing, and Using Potassium Ion Selective Microelectrodes in Tissue Slices of Adult Brain
11:20

Making, Testing, and Using Potassium Ion Selective Microelectrodes in Tissue Slices of Adult Brain

Published on: May 7, 2018

Potassium channels and neurovascular coupling.

Kathryn M Dunn1, Mark T Nelson

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.

Circulation Journal : Official Journal of the Japanese Circulation Society
|March 18, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Neurovascular coupling (NVC) ensures brain blood flow matches neuronal activity. Astrocytic signals modulate blood vessel tone via potassium channels, crucial for brain homeostasis.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cerebrovascular Physiology

Background:

  • Neuronal activity requires matching cerebral blood flow for adequate brain tissue perfusion.
  • Neurovascular coupling (NVC), or functional hyperemia, is vital for maintaining cerebral homeostasis and survival.
  • Astrocytic calcium signals link neuronal activity to cerebral vasculature changes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of neurovascular coupling (NVC).
  • To examine the role of potassium channels in mediating NVC in parenchymal arterioles.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on neurovascular coupling.
  • Analysis of astrocytic signaling pathways involved in NVC.
  • Investigation of potassium channel involvement in smooth muscle cells of parenchymal arterioles.

More Related Videos

Patch Clamp and Perfusion Techniques for Studying Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus oocytes
10:19

Patch Clamp and Perfusion Techniques for Studying Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus oocytes

Published on: January 10, 2011

Recording of Inward Rectifying K+ Currents in Freshly Isolated Basilar Artery Smooth Muscle Cells by Patch Clamp Technique
07:19

Recording of Inward Rectifying K+ Currents in Freshly Isolated Basilar Artery Smooth Muscle Cells by Patch Clamp Technique

Published on: February 7, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Making, Testing, and Using Potassium Ion Selective Microelectrodes in Tissue Slices of Adult Brain
11:20

Making, Testing, and Using Potassium Ion Selective Microelectrodes in Tissue Slices of Adult Brain

Published on: May 7, 2018

Patch Clamp and Perfusion Techniques for Studying Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus oocytes
10:19

Patch Clamp and Perfusion Techniques for Studying Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus oocytes

Published on: January 10, 2011

Recording of Inward Rectifying K+ Currents in Freshly Isolated Basilar Artery Smooth Muscle Cells by Patch Clamp Technique
07:19

Recording of Inward Rectifying K+ Currents in Freshly Isolated Basilar Artery Smooth Muscle Cells by Patch Clamp Technique

Published on: February 7, 2025

Main Results:

  • Astrocytic processes (endfeet) transmit neuronal activity signals to parenchymal arterioles.
  • Astrocytic Ca(2+) signals trigger vasoactive substance release, affecting smooth muscle cell tone.
  • Potassium channel activation in smooth muscle cells is a proposed mechanism for NVC.

Conclusions:

  • Neurovascular coupling is a critical process for matching brain perfusion to metabolic demands.
  • Astrocytes play a key role in translating neuronal activity into vascular responses.
  • Potassium channels in parenchymal arteriole smooth muscle cells are implicated in mediating NVC.