Neurotransmitter modulation of neuronal calcium channels.
There are many different calcium channels expressed in the mammalian nervous system, but N-type and P/Q-type calcium channels appear to dominate the presynaptic terminals of central and peripheral neurons. The neurotransmitter-induced modulation of these channels can result in alteration of synaptic transmission. This review highlights the mechanisms by which neurotransmitters affect the activity of N-type and P/Q-type calcium channels. The inhibition of these channels by voltage-dependent and voltage-independent mechanisms is emphasized because of the wealth of information available on the intracellular mediators and on the effect of these pathways on the single-channel gating.
Elmslie
Keith S
KS
Department of Physiology, Tulane University Health Science Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA. kelmslie@tulane.edu
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type / Q000502:physiology; D020865:Calcium Channels, P-Type / Q000502:physiology; D020907:Calcium Channels, Q-Type / Q000502:physiology; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D016062:Porosity; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
D015220:Calcium Channels; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type; D020865:Calcium Channels, P-Type; D020907:Calcium Channels, Q-Type; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D002118:Calcium