[Extracellular pH, [K+] and synaptic transmission in the dorsal horn of spinal cord of rats in hypercapnia].

In rats anaesthetized with +-chloralose the changes in extracellular pH and K+ in spinal cord dorsal horn were studied using pH and K+ ion-selective electrodes. The addition of 20% CO2 into inhaled air decreased the basal level of [pH]0 from 7.35 +/- 0.01 to 6.78 +/- 0.09 pH units and increased the basal level of [K+]0 from 3.1 +/- 0.1 to 5.14 +/- 0.8 mM. Electrocutaneous supramaximal (10 mA) simulation of both hind paws with the frequency 30 and 100 Hz induced the shift in the concentration of H+ and K+ by 0.15-0.2 unit and 2-2.5 mM, respectively. Under hypercapnia this shift of pH decreased by 36.9 +/- 8.5% at 30 Hz frequency of electrocutaneous stimulation and by 41.9 +/- 6.1% at 100 Hz frequency. The K+ shift decreased by 11.5 +/- 1.3% and by 17.3 +/- 1.5% under similar conditions. Hypercapnia induced by addition of 20% CO2 into inhaled air decreased also the focal potential amplitude by 16.8 +/- 4%. Thus, hypercapnia induces the increase of [K+]0 and [pH]0 and the decrease of recorded indicators in response to electrocutaneous stimulation. Total depression of synaptic transmission and analgetic effect occur due to these changes of ions distribution.