Merits and Limitations of Studying Neuronal Depolarization-Dependent Processes Using Elevated External Potassium

Overview

Journal ASN Neuro

Specialties Chemistry
Neurology

Date 2020 Dec 1

PMID 33256465

Citations 31

Authors

Kira D A Rienecker

Robert G Poston

Ramendra N Saha

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Elevated extracellular potassium chloride is widely used to achieve membrane depolarization of cultured neurons. This technique has illuminated mechanisms of calcium influx through L-type voltage sensitive calcium channels, activity-regulated signaling, downstream transcriptional events, and many other intracellular responses to depolarization. However, there is enormous variability in these treatments, including durations from seconds to days and concentrations from 3mM to 150 mM KCl. Differential effects of these variable protocols on neuronal activity and transcriptional programs are underexplored. Furthermore, potassium chloride treatments are criticized for being poor representatives of phenomena and are questioned for their effects on cell viability. In this review, we discuss the intracellular consequences of elevated extracellular potassium chloride treatment , the variability of such treatments in the literature, the strengths and limitations of this tool, and relevance of these studies to brain functions and dysfunctions.

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