Studying the Role of Astrocytic Membrane Properties on Microscopic Fluid Flow in Brain Tissue
摘要
The role of astrocyte networks in brain volume homeostasis and waste clearance has not received enough attention from the neuroscience community. However, recent research efforts indicate that glial cells are crucial for fluid flow through brain tissue, contributing to clearance and maintenance of brain volume. We examine the role of various glial cotransporters in the spatial and temporal changes of the intra- and extracellular volume fractions and fluid dynamics via computational modelling. The model is incorporated within the Kirchhoff-Nernst- Planck electrodiffusive framework and takes into account ionic electrodiffusion and fluid dynamics. Our research shows that all model configurations demonstrate similar fluid fluxes, except those involving HCO− 3 dynamics. The model configuration that included the NBC cotransporter was observed to have the greatest intracellular total volume-weighted fluid velocity of 16 μm/s.