Effects of carbon dioxide on extracellular potassium accumulation and volume in isolated frog spinal cord

A 6-10-fold increase in pCO2 in the superfusing Ringer solution increased the volume of the extracellular space (ECS) and changed the spatial distribution and amplitude of the extracellular K+ accumulation which resulted from dorsal root stimulation. Using the increase in tetraethylammonium concentration [( TEA+]) resulting from iontophoretic injection of that ion in the extracellular fluid as an indication of the volume of the ECS, it was found that in high pCO2 the ECS volume in spinal dorsal horn increased by more than 60%. In addition, in the presence of raised pCO2 we also observed the following: (1) The rate of diffusion of TEA+ into the dorsal horn increased. (2) The accumulation of K+ evoked by single or tetanic stimulation of the dorsal root was less. (3) The clearance of K+ was slowed down. (4) The regions where K+ accumulated were more restricted. (5) The K+ evoked depolarization of the primary afferent fibres decreased. (6) In contrast to TEA+, the rate of diffusion of K+ into the dorsal horn decreased. The effects of an increase in pCO2 on K+ accumulation and clearance appear to result from an increase in ECS volume and a possible decrease in glial electrical coupling which interferes with glial spatial buffering of K+.