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Updated: Aug 26, 2026

Fluorescent Calcium Imaging and Subsequent In Situ Hybridization for Neuronal Precursor Characterization in Xenopus laevis
Published on: February 18, 2020
Neurotransmitter modulation of neuronal calcium channels
1Department of Physiology, Tulane University Health Science Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA. kelmslie@tulane.edu
Abstract:
There are many different calcium channels expressed in the mammalian nervous system, but N-type and P/Q-type calcium channels appear to dominate the presynaptic terminals of central and peripheral neurons. The neurotransmitter-induced modulation of these channels can result in alteration of synaptic transmission. This review highlights the mechanisms by which neurotransmitters affect the activity of N-type and P/Q-type calcium channels. The inhibition of these channels by voltage-dependent and voltage-independent mechanisms is emphasized because of the wealth of information available on the intracellular mediators and on the effect of these pathways on the single-channel gating.
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