In this study, we investigated the mechanism that links activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors to inhibition of voltage-gated sodium channels in isolated catfish cone horizontal cells. NMDA channels were activated in voltage-clamped cells incubated in low-calcium saline or dialyzed with the calcium chelator BAPTA to determine that calcium influx through NMDA channels is required fo...

Smoking is a widespread health problem. Because the nicotine withdrawal syndrome is a major contributor to continued smoking and relapse, it is important to understand the molecular and behavioral mechanisms of nicotine withdrawal to generate more effective smoking cessation therapies. Studies suggest a role for calcium-dependent mechanisms, such as L-type calcium channels and calcium/calmoduli...

Pyrethroids are commonly used insecticides for both household and agricultural applications. It is generally reported that voltage-gated sodium channels are the primary target for toxicity of these chemicals to humans. The phylogenetic and structural relatedness between sodium channels and voltage-gated calcium (Ca) channels prompted us to examine the effects of the type 1 pyrethroid allethrin ...

Calcium ions in the external medium stabilize the resting state of voltage-dependent channels, including Na channels. This effect of calcium on channel gating is usually explained in terms of the surface charge hypothesis, which proposes that local adsorption of calcium ion to the outside of the membrane alters the intramembranous electric field, thus influencing channel behavior indirectly. Ca...

Calcium channel β subunits have marked effects on the trafficking and on several of the biophysical properties of all high voltage activated calcium channels. In this article I shall review information on the different genes, on the structure of the β subunits, and on their differential expression and post-translational modification. Their role in trafficking and assembly of the calcium channel...

Voltage-dependent calcium channels regulate many aspects of neuronal biology, including synaptic transmission. In addition to their alpha1 subunit, which encodes the essential voltage gate and selective pore, calcium channels also contain auxiliary alpha2delta, beta, and gamma subunits. Despite progress in understanding the biophysical properties of calcium channels, the in vivo functions of th...

mice were rendered tolerant and dependent to morphine by subcutaneous injection of morphine over a period of 5 days. the effects of acute and chronic administration of dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist nifedipine on the development of tolerance and naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal signs were investigated. a single injection of nifedipine proved to be effective in inhibiting so...

White bass (Roccus chrysops) retinal horizontal cells possess two types of voltage-activated calcium currents which have recently been characterized with regard to their voltage dependence and pharmacology (Sullivan, J., and E. M. Lasater. 1992. Journal of General Physiology. 99:85-107). A low voltage-activated transient current was identified which resembles the T-type calcium current describe...

Somatostatin is a neurohormone peptide that inhibits a variety of secretory responses in different cell types. We have investigated the effects of somatostatin on calcium current and intracellular free calcium in AtT-20 cells, a pituitary tumor line in which the inhibitory actions of this peptide have been well characterized. At concentrations similar to those that inhibit adrenocorticotropic h...