A lethal convergence of dopamine and calcium.
The controversy about whether dopamine contributes to cell loss in Parkinson's disease takes a new turn as Mosharov et al. in this issue of Neuron demonstrate that Ca2+ influx through L-type channels elevates dopamine synthesis to potentially toxic levels in vulnerable ventral mesencephalon neurons.
Surmeier
D James
DJ
Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. j-surmeier@northwestern.edu
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000166:cytology
D002118:Calcium; D004298:Dopamine