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Updated: Nov 26, 2025

Vibrodissociation of Neurons from Rodent Brain Slices to Study Synaptic Transmission and Image Presynaptic Terminals
Published on: May 25, 2011
Functions of Presynaptic Voltage-gated Calcium Channels
1Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
Abstract:
Voltage-gated calcium channels are the principal conduits for depolarization-mediated Ca2+ entry into excitable cells. In this review, the biophysical properties of the relevant members of this family of channels, those that are present in presynaptic terminals, will be discussed in relation to their function in mediating neurotransmitter release. Voltage-gated calcium channels have properties that ensure they are specialized for particular roles, for example, differences in their activation voltage threshold, their various kinetic properties, and their voltage-dependence of inactivation. All these attributes play into the ability of the various voltage-gated calcium channels to participate in different patterns of presynaptic vesicular release. These include synaptic transmission resulting from single action potentials, and longer-term changes mediated by bursts or trains of action potentials, as well as release resulting from graded changes in membrane potential in specialized sensory synapses.
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