title: T-type calcium channel as a new therapeutic target for tremor.
abstract: Voltage-gated calcium channels play an important role in many physiological and pathological processes. Accumulating studies suggest that the T-type calcium channel is a potential target for the treatment of various neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, insomnia, and neuropathic pain. Here, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of T-type calcium channel regulation and their implications for tremor disorders. Several T-type calcium channel blockers effectively suppressed experimental tremors that have been suggested to originate from either the cerebellum or basal ganglia. Among T-type calcium channel blockers that have been used clinically, the anti-tremor efficacy of zonisamide garnered our attention. Based on both basic and clinical studies, the possibility is emerging that T-type calcium channel blockers that transit into the central nervous system may have therapeutic potentials for tremor disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8510, Japan. h-miwa@wakayama-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hideto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miwa
authors.forename: Tomoyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D014202:Tremor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type