Calcium dependence of spontaneous neurotransmitter release |
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Authors: | Courtney L. Williams Stephen M. Smith |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon;2. Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon |
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Abstract: | Spontaneous release of neurotransmitters is regulated by extracellular [Ca2+] and intracellular [Ca2+]. Curiously, some of the mechanisms of Ca2+ signaling at central synapses are different at excitatory and inhibitory synapses. While the stochastic activity of voltage‐activated Ca2+ channels triggers a majority of spontaneous release at inhibitory synapses, this is not the case at excitatory nerve terminals. Ca2+ release from intracellular stores regulates spontaneous release at excitatory and inhibitory terminals, as do agonists of the Ca2+‐sensing receptor. Molecular machinery triggering spontaneous vesicle fusion may differ from that underlying evoked release and may be one of the sources of heterogeneity in release mechanisms. |
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Keywords: | spontaneous release minis VGCC (voltage‐gated calcium channels) calcium |
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