title: Spontaneous Ca2+ spikes and waves in embryonic neurons: signaling systems for differentiation.
abstract: Many excitable cells are specialized to promote Ca2+ influx at early stages of development. This article focuses on spontaneous fluctuations of intracellular Ca2+ that are observed during this period. Removal of Ca2+ or suppression of influx alters subsequent differentiation. Thus these signals appear to regulate aspects of early maturation.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Spitzer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009420:Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium