title: Neuronal calcium stores.
abstract: Neuronal calcium stores associated with specialized intracellular organelles, such as endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, dynamically participate in generation of cytoplasmic calcium signals which accompany neuronal activity. They fulfil a dual role in neuronal Ca2+ homeostasis being involved in both buffering the excess of Ca2+ entering the cytoplasm through plasmalemmal channels and providing an intracellular source for Ca2+. Increase of Ca2+ content within the stores regulates the availability and magnitude of intracellular calcium release, thereby providing a mechanism which couples the neuronal activity with functional state of intracellular Ca2+ stores. Apart of 'classical' calcium stores (endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria) other organelles (e.g. nuclear envelope and neurotransmitter vesicles) may potentially act as a functional Ca2+ storage compartments. Calcium ions released from internal stores participate in many neuronal functions, and might be primarily involved in regulation of various aspects of neuronal plasticity.
authors: Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany. av@nero.glia.mdc-berlin.de
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Verkhratsky
authors: O H
authors: OH
authors: Petersen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium