Ions, water, and energy in brain cells: a synopsis of interrelations.

A brief summary is given of some of the key points of the individual contributions at this International Brain Research Organization satellite meeting, presenting up-to-date, expert knowledge of energy metabolism, ionic turnover, and cell swelling at the cellular level of the mammalian central nervous system. On the basis of this material, we are also suggesting a unified concept of reciprocal interactions between metabolism, ion carriers, and ion channels, which are of crucial importance for the function of the central nervous system.