Lighting Up Ca²⁺ Dynamics in Animal Models

Calcium (Ca²⁺) signaling coordinates are crucial processes in brain physiology. Particularly, fundamental aspects of neuronal function such as synaptic transmission and neuronal plasticity are regulated by Ca²⁺, and neuronal survival itself relies on Ca²⁺-dependent cascades. Indeed, impaired Ca²⁺ homeostasis has been reported in aging as well as in the onset and progression of neurodegeneration. Understanding the physiology of brain function and the key processes leading to its derangement is a core challenge for neuroscience. In this context, Ca²⁺ imaging represents a powerful tool, effectively fostered by the continuous amelioration of Ca²⁺ sensors in parallel with the improvement of imaging instrumentation. In this review, we explore the potentiality of the most used animal models employed for Ca²⁺ imaging, highlighting their application in brain research to explore the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.