Fig. 1.

Cultured cortical rat astrocytes express ClC channels. A,B. Immunostaining with specific antibodies to ClC-2 and ClC-3 show prominent, membrane-associated staining. C. Transcripts for these channels are also found by RTPCR. Arrow indicates 500-bp band. D. Representative whole-cell recording of voltage steps from -80 to +80 mV for 200 ms from a 0-mV holding potential (inset) were obtained in choline—chloride bath and pipette solution following a 2-min hypotonic challenge. Currents were inhibited by substitution of 140 mM choline I for choline Cl^-. (Adapted from Parkerson and Sontheimer, 2004.)