Low-Threshold Calcium Currents in Central Nervous System Neurons

作者：John R. Huguenard · 发表于：Annual Review of Physiology · 年份：1996 · DOI：10.1146/annurev.ph.58.030196.001553 · 被引用次数：770 · 研究领域：Ion channel regulation and function、Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research、Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study

The low-threshold calcium current, or T current, has recently been demonstrated with voltage-clamp recordings in a variety of central nervous system (CNS) neurons. It is especially prominent in the soma and dendrites of neurons with robust calcium-dependent burst firing behaviors such as thalamic relay neurons and cerebellar Purkinje cells. Single-channel and macroscopic current behavior have been carefully investigated and kinetic schemes devised to completely describe the activation and inactivation processes. The kinetic properties of T current lead to activation of low-threshold spikes subsequent to transient membrane hyperpolarizations. Putative functional roles for T current include generation of low-threshold spikes that lead to burst firing, promotion of intrinsic oscillatory behavior, boosting of calcium entry, and synaptic potentiation.