title: Coactivation of multiple tightly coupled calcium channels triggers spontaneous release of GABA.
abstract: Voltage-activated Ca(2+) channels (VACCs) mediate Ca(2+) influx to trigger action potential-evoked neurotransmitter release, but the mechanism by which Ca(2+) regulates spontaneous transmission is unclear. We found that VACCs are the major physiological triggers for spontaneous release at mouse neocortical inhibitory synapses. Moreover, despite the absence of a synchronizing action potential, we found that spontaneous fusion of a GABA-containing vesicle required the activation of multiple tightly coupled VACCs of variable type.
authors: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
authors: Courtney
authors: C
authors: Williams
authors: Wenyan
authors: W
authors: Chen
authors: Chia-Hsueh
authors: CH
authors: Lee
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Yaeger
authors: Nicholas P
authors: NP
authors: Vyleta
authors: Stephen M
authors: SM
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; 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; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000502:physiology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type; D020865:Calcium Channels, P-Type; D020907:Calcium Channels, Q-Type; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D002118:Calcium