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Inhibition of N- and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels by cannabinoid receptors in single cerebrocortical nerve terminals
M C Godino1, M Torres, J Sánchez-Prieto
1Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense, 28040-Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
Since cannabinoid receptors inhibit excitatory synaptic transmission by reducing glutamate release, we have examined whether this might occur through the direct inhibition of presynaptic Ca2+ channels. In cerebrocortical nerve terminals, activation of cannabinoid receptors with WIN55,212-2 reduces the KCl-evoked release of glutamate. However, this inhibition is attenuated when N- and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels are blocked. Through Ca2+ imaging in single nerve terminals, we found that WIN55,212-2 reduced the influx of Ca2+ both in nerve terminals that contain N-type Ca2+ channels and those that contain P/Q-type Ca2+ channels. Thus, cannabinoid receptors modulate the two major Ca2+ channels coupled to glutamate release in the cerebral cortex.
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