title: Presynaptic calcium currents in squid giant synapse.
abstract: A voltage clamp study has been performed in the presynaptic terminal of the squid stellate ganglion. After blockage of the voltage-dependent sodium and potassium conductances, an inward calcium current is demonstrated. Given a step-depolarization pulse, this voltage- and time-dependent conductance has an S-shaped onset. At the "break" of the voltage step, a rapid tail current is observed. From these results a kinetic model is generated which accounts for the experimental results and predicts for the time course and amplitude a possible calcium entry during presynaptic action potentials.
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049832:Decapodiformes; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005724:Ganglia / Q000502:physiology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008433:Mathematics; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium