title: T-type Ca2+ channels in normal and abnormal brain functions.
abstract: Low-voltage-activated T-type Ca(2+) channels are widely expressed in various types of neurons. Once deinactivated by hyperpolarization, T-type channels are ready to be activated by a small depolarization near the resting membrane potential and, therefore, are optimal for regulating the excitability and electroresponsiveness of neurons under physiological conditions near resting states. Ca(2+) influx through T-type channels engenders low-threshold Ca(2+) spikes, which in turn trigger a burst of action potentials. Low-threshold burst firing has been implicated in the synchronization of the thalamocortical circuit during sleep and in absence seizures. It also has been suggested that T-type channels play an important role in pain signal transmission, based on their abundant expression in pain-processing pathways in peripheral and central neurons. In this review, we will describe studies on the role of T-type Ca(2+) channels in the physiological as well as pathological generation of brain rhythms in sleep, absence epilepsy, and pain signal transmission. Recent advances in studies of T-type channels in the control of cognition will also be briefly discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Translational Research Center for Protein Function Control, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. eunjicheong@yonsei.ac.kr
authors.forename: Eunji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Hee-Sup
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type