title: The many faces of T-type calcium channels.
abstract: Since the discovery of low-voltage-activated T-type calcium channels in sensory neurons and the initial characterization of their physiological function mainly in inferior olive and thalamic neurons, studies on neuronal T-type currents have predominantly focused on the generation of low-threshold spike (and associated action potential burst firing) which is strictly conditioned by a preceding hyperpolarization. This T-type current mediated activity has become an archetype of the function of these channels, constraining our view of the potential physiological and pathological roles that they may play in controlling the excitability of single cells and neural networks. However, greatly helped by the recent availability of the first potent and selective antagonists for this class of calcium channels, novel T-type current functions are rapidly being uncovered, including their surprising involvement in neuronal excitability at depolarized membrane potentials and their complex control of dendritic integration and neurotransmitter release. These and other data summarized in this short review clearly indicate a much wider physiological involvement of T-type channels in neuronal activity than previously expected.
authors.affiliation: UMR 7102 CNRS, 9 quai Saint Bernard, Paris, 75005, France, regis.lambert@snv.jussieu.fr.
authors.forename: Régis C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bessaïh
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Crunelli
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leresche
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D055366:Synaptic Potentials
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994 May 24;91(11):5207-11
references.pmid: 8197208
references.citation: Science. 1995 Apr 14;268(5208):301-4
references.pmid: 7716525
references.citation: Nat Neurosci. 2008 Jun;11(6):683-92
references.pmid: 18488023
references.citation: J Physiol. 2005 Jan 1;562(Pt 1):121-9
references.pmid: 15498803
references.citation: Nature. 1982 Jun 3;297(5865):406-8
references.pmid: 7078650
references.citation: Br J Pharmacol. 1999 Jan;126(1):245-50
references.pmid: 10051142
references.citation: J Physiol. 2012 Jan 1;590(1):109-18
references.pmid: 22063631
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Aug 12;105(32):11376-81
references.pmid: 18685097
references.citation: J Neurosci. 2000 Feb 15;20(4):1307-17
references.pmid: 10662820
references.citation: J Physiol. 1991 Sep;441:155-74
references.pmid: 1840071
references.citation: J Neurosci. 1998 Nov 1;18(21):8740-50
references.pmid: 9786981
references.citation: Eur J Neurosci. 1999 Aug;11(8):2949-64
references.pmid: 10457190
references.citation: J Physiol. 2004 Mar 1;555(Pt 2):331-44
references.pmid: 14694144
references.citation: Cell Calcium. 1997 Oct;22(4):299-311
references.pmid: 9481480
references.citation: J Neurosci. 2009 Aug 5;29(31):9668-82
references.pmid: 19657020
references.citation: Eur J Neurosci. 1999 Dec;11(12):4149-58
references.pmid: 10594640
references.citation: Nat Neurosci. 2011 Apr;14(4):478-86
references.pmid: 21358644
references.citation: Biophys J. 2001 Mar;80(3):1238-50
references.pmid: 11222288
references.citation: J Neurosci. 1998 May 15;18(10):3574-88
references.pmid: 9570789
references.citation: J Neurosci. 2010 Nov 3;30(44):14843-53
references.pmid: 21048143
references.citation: J Physiol. 1986 Oct;379:429-49
references.pmid: 3560000
references.citation: Cell Calcium. 2006 Aug;40(2):97-114
references.pmid: 16777221
references.citation: J Neurosci. 2005 Apr 6;25(14):3521-30
references.pmid: 15814782
references.citation: CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2006 Dec;5(6):611-27
references.pmid: 17168746
references.citation: J Neurosci. 2012 Aug 29;32(35):12228-36
references.pmid: 22933804
references.citation: J Neurosci. 2003 Aug 20;23(20):7551-8
references.pmid: 12930793
references.citation: J Med Chem. 2008 Jul 10;51(13):3692-5
references.pmid: 18540666
references.citation: J Neurophysiol. 1984 Jun;51(6):1220-35
references.pmid: 6429291
references.citation: Nature. 1985 Aug 1-7;316(6027):440-3
references.pmid: 2410796
references.citation: J Neurosci. 2001 May 15;21(10):3443-56
references.pmid: 11331374
references.citation: J Neurosci. 2004 Jun 16;24(24):5592-602
references.pmid: 15201332
references.citation: J Neurosci. 2007 Apr 4;27(14):3823-38
references.pmid: 17409247
references.citation: Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009 Jun;1793(6):947-52
references.pmid: 19071165
references.citation: Mol Pharmacol. 1995 Sep;48(3):540-9
references.pmid: 7565636
references.citation: J Physiol. 1984 Apr;349:227-47
references.pmid: 6737293
references.citation: J Neurosci. 2002 May 1;22(9):3404-13
references.pmid: 11978817
references.citation: Nature. 1984 Aug 9-15;310(5977):501-2
references.pmid: 6087159
references.citation: J Neurosci. 2011 Sep 21;31(38):13546-61
references.pmid: 21940446
references.citation: Cell Biochem Biophys. 2001;34(1):79-94
references.pmid: 11394442
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Feb 14;109(7):2601-6
references.pmid: 22308379
references.citation: Circ Res. 1994 Jul;75(1):144-8
references.pmid: 8013072
references.citation: J Comp Neurol. 2010 Nov 1;518(21):4362-74
references.pmid: 20853512
references.citation: J Neurosci. 1992 Oct;12(10):3804-17
references.pmid: 1403085
references.citation: J Neurosci Res. 2010 Feb 1;88(2):448-60
references.pmid: 19774668
references.citation: J Physiol. 2011 Apr 1;589(Pt 7):1707-24
references.pmid: 21320888
references.citation: Neuron. 2002 Mar 14;33(6):947-58
references.pmid: 11906700
references.citation: J Physiol. 2002 Apr 1;540(Pt 1):3-14
references.pmid: 11927664
references.citation: J Neurosci. 2013 May 1;33(18):7811-24
references.pmid: 23637173
references.citation: Nat Neurosci. 2010 Mar;13(3):333-7
references.pmid: 20154682
references.citation: Eur J Neurosci. 2006 Nov;24(9):2581-94
references.pmid: 17100846
references.citation: Neuron. 2004 Oct 28;44(3):483-93
references.pmid: 15504328
references.citation: J Neurosci. 2010 Nov 17;30(46):15419-29
references.pmid: 21084598
references.citation: J Neurophysiol. 1984 Jun;51(6):1196-219
references.pmid: 6737028
references.citation: J Neurosci. 1996 Jan;16(1):169-85
references.pmid: 8613783
references.citation: J Neurosci. 2010 Jan 6;30(1):99-109
references.pmid: 20053892
references.citation: J Physiol. 1981 Jun;315:549-67
references.pmid: 6273544
references.citation: J Physiol. 2005 Jul 1;566(Pt 1):125-42
references.pmid: 15845580
references.citation: Neuron. 2010 Nov 4;68(3):500-11
references.pmid: 21040850
references.citation: Br J Pharmacol. 1997 Jun;121(3):547-55
references.pmid: 9179399
references.citation: PLoS One. 2013 Aug 21;8(8):e72275
references.pmid: 23991078
references.citation: Eur J Neurosci. 1999 Dec;11(12):4171-8
references.pmid: 10594642
references.citation: J Physiol. 1985 Feb;359:431-46
references.pmid: 2582115
references.citation: J Physiol. 1984 Apr;349:205-26
references.pmid: 6737292
references.citation: J Comp Neurol. 2011 Apr 15;519(6):1181-95
references.pmid: 21344408
references.citation: J Neurosci. 2006 Mar 1;26(9):2474-86
references.pmid: 16510726
references.citation: Mol Pharmacol. 2010 Feb;77(2):136-8
references.pmid: 19903827
references.citation: Neuron. 2009 Jan 29;61(2):259-71
references.pmid: 19186168
references.citation: J Physiol. 1986 Jul;376:341-57
references.pmid: 2432232
references.citation: Physiol Rev. 2003 Jan;83(1):117-61
references.pmid: 12506128
references.citation: J Membr Biol. 1996 May;151(1):77-90
references.pmid: 8661496
references.citation: Neuron. 2001 Oct 11;32(1):89-98
references.pmid: 11604141
references.citation: Mol Pharmacol. 1999 Dec;56(6):1192-7
references.pmid: 10570046