title: Contributions of two types of calcium channels to synaptic transmission and plasticity.
abstract: In Aplysia sensory and motor neurons in culture, the contributions of the major classes of calcium current can be selectively examined while transmitter release and its modulation are examined. A slowly inactivating, dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium current does not contribute either to normal synaptic transmission or to any of three different forms of plasticity: presynaptic inhibition, homosynaptic depression, and presynaptic facilitation. This current does contribute, however, to a fourth form of plasticity--modulation of transmitter release by tonic depolarization of the sensory neuron. By contrast, a second calcium current, which is rapidly inactivating and dihydropyridine-insensitive, contributes to release elicited by the transient depolarization of an action potential and to the other three forms of plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University College of London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Edmonds
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Kandel
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D001048:Aplysia / Q000502:physiology*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D019835:FMRFamide; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D004095:Dihydropyridines; D009479:Neuropeptides; D002104:Cadmium; D012701:Serotonin; D019835:FMRFamide; C038806:1,4-dihydropyridine; D009543:Nifedipine