Cell length to diameter relation of rat fetal radial glia--does impaired K+ transport capacity of long thin cells cause their perinatal transformation into multipolar astrocytes?

In thick sections of Golgi-impregnated late fetal rat brains, radial glial cells were measured for both length and diameter of their main (basal) processes. The process diameter was found to decrease proportionally to the square root of cell length; thus, the cytoplasm volume remained fairly constant for cells in the range of lengths studied (100-2500 microns). The measured data were used for calculation of the cell's space constant lambda in order to estimate their capability to carry spatial buffering K+ currents. These calculations show that long and slender cells are unable to perform sufficient K+ clearance by such currents. This supports the hypothesis that perinatally when the maturing neurons release enhanced K+ during electrical activity, such long thin cells are subject to long-lasting depolarizations and, thereby, forced to undergo mitotic cell division transforming them into multipolar astrocytes.