Functions of glial cells in the retina of the honeybee drone

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Abstract
In the retina of the honey bee drone, Apis mellifera ♂, physiological interactins between glial cells and neurons (the photoreceptors) are exceptionally clearcut and amenable to investigation. The principal glia (outer pigment cells) contribute to the homeostasis of extracellular [K+] and [Na+] by (1) spatial buffering of K+ and (2) net uptake fo K+ and Cl−. The glia supply carbohydrate metabolic substrate to the neurons; only the glia take up and phosphorylate glucose. Neuronal activity (1) modifies glycogen metabolism in the glia, and (2) can be signalled to the glia in the absence of elevated extracellular [K+].