Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Ratiometric Calcium Imaging of Individual Neurons in Behaving Caenorhabditis Elegans
Published on: February 7, 2018
Calcium regulates the activity of serotonin-containing dorsal raphe neurons in vitro
Abstract:
Small elevations of calcium ions (15%) significantly depressed the activity of serotonin-containing dorsal raphe neurons by 35% in mouse brain slices in vitro, while large increases in calcium ion concentration (300%) dramatically decreased the incidence of spontaneously active raphe neurons. Neurochemical studies indicated that these effects were not attributable to increased release and metabolism of serotonin. These findings may have implications for the treatment of mood disorders, for which disturbances in both calcium and serotonin metabolism have been demonstrated.
Related Concept Videos
G-protein Coupled Receptors
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...
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,...

