Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Fluorescent Calcium Imaging and Subsequent In Situ Hybridization for Neuronal Precursor Characterization in Xenopus laevis
Published on: February 18, 2020
Novel pathway for an old neurotransmitter: dopamine-induced neuronal calcium signalling via receptor-independent
Annika Vaarmann1, Sonia Gandhi, Alexander V Gourine
1Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
Abstract:
Dopamine is one of the key neurotransmitters in the central nervous system and plays an important role in physiological processes, as well as in the development of many diseases. Here we report a receptor-independent signalling pathway induced by dopamine in CNS neurons. In cultured neurons from midbrain, cortex and hippocampus, dopamine uptake via dopamine or monoamine transporters induces plasmalemmal membrane depolarization, leading to opening of voltage gated calcium channels and a cytosolic calcium signal. This dopamine-induced calcium signal is unaffected by inhibition of the known dopamine receptors. In anaesthetized rats, application of dopamine in the presence of dopamine receptor antagonists to brainstem structures controlling cardiovascular activity results in an increase in heart rate, arterial blood pressure and sympathetic nerve activity. These data identify a novel dopamine-induced signalling pathway in CNS neurons which may have an important functional role in the central mechanisms controlling complex behaviours.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Adrenergic Neurons: Neurotransmission
Synthesis: Catecholamine synthesis requires tyrosine, which is taken...
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis
Amplifying Signals via Second Messengers

