Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026

Monitoring ER/SR Calcium Release with the Targeted Ca2+ Sensor CatchER+
Published on: May 19, 2017
Roles of the calcium sensing receptor in the central nervous system
Martial Ruat1, Elisabeth Traiffort
1CNRS-UPR-3294, Laboratory of Neurobiology and Development, Institute of Neurobiology, Alfred Fessard IFR2118, Signal Transduction and Developmental Neuropharmacology Team, 1 Avenue de la Terrasse, F-91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France. ruat@inaf.cnrs-gif.fr
Abstract:
The calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) is expressed by subpopulations of neuronal and glial cells throughout the brain and is activated by extracellular calcium [Formula: see text] . During development, the CaSR regulates neuronal cell growth and migration as well as oligodendroglial maturation and function. Emerging evidence suggests that in nerve terminals, CaSR is implicated in synaptic plasticity and neurotransmission. In this review, we analyze the roles attributed to CaSR in regulating diverse brain functions, including central regulation of body fluid composition and blood pressure. We also discuss the potential relevance of Ca(2+)-sensing in brain by other family C G protein-coupled receptors. Finally, evidence that the CaSR contributes to the pathogenesis of various brain disorders raises the possibility that pharmacological modulators of the CaSR may have therapeutic benefit.
Related Concept Videos
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,...
Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration
Various transmembrane receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), elicit a response to extracellular signals by increasing cytosolic calcium. Activated GPCRs...
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis
The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.
Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways

