The role of cation-chloride cotransporters in neuronal signal transmission

Cation-chloride (CY) cotransporters play an important role in neurotransmission by participating in ion homeostasis. We have applied an optical imaging technique to rat spinal cord slices and examined how extracellular K/sup +/ concentration ([K/sup +/]/sub 0/) is regulated. Our results show the involvement of the K-Cl cotransporters in response to changes in [K/sup +/]/sub 0/ in the rat spinal dorsal horn.