title: K(+)- and transmitter-induced rises in [Ca2+]i in auditory neurones of developing rats.
abstract: Ca2+ ions are thought to play important roles in processes underlying neuronal plasticity such as synapse stabilization. We employed the Fura-2 technique on brainstem slices of neonatal rats to measure changes in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in neurons of the lateral superior olive (LSO) in order to analyse whether these cells have functional Ca2+ channels when synaptic maturation takes place. Rises in intracellular Ca2+ could be induced by KCl-evoked depolarizations or by glutamate, but not by glycine or GABA. These results show that Ca2+ channels are present in developing LSO neurones and that many of them, if not all, belong to the voltage-sensitive type. We speculate that these channels play a role during ontogeny by mediating Ca(2+)-dependent mechanisms of synapse stabilization.
authors.affiliation: Universität Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmanns
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Friauf
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D016257:Fura-2; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009847:Olivary Nucleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium; D005998:Glycine; D016257:Fura-2