Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Olfactory Cortex”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,081 records · Page 60Linked to original sources

Differential expression of utrophin and dystrophin in CNS neurons: an in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical study.

The cellular distribution of utrophin, the autosomal homologue of dystrophin, was investigated in developing and adult rat and mouse brain by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Digoxigenin-labeled cRNA probes complementary to N-terminal, rod-domain, and C-terminal encoding sequences of utrophin were used to differentiate between full-length and short C-terminal isoforms. Largely overlapping distribution patterns were seen for the three probes in neurons of cerebral cortex, accessory olfactory bulb, and several sensory and motor brainstem nuclei as well as in blood vessels, pia mater, and choroid plexus. The C-terminal probe was detected in addition in the main olfactory bulb, striatum, thalamic reticular nucleus, and hypothalamus, suggesting a selective expression of G-utrophin in these neurons. Western blot analysis with isoform-specific antisera confirmed the expression of both full-length and G-utrophin in brain. Immunohistochemically, only full-length utrophin was detected in neurons, in close association with the plasma membrane. In addition, intense staining was seen in blood vessels, meninges, and choroid plexus, selectively localized in the basolateral membrane of immunopositive epithelial cells. The expression pattern of utrophin was already established at early postnatal stages and did not change thereafter. Double-labeling analysis revealed that utrophin and dystrophin are differentially expressed on the cellular and subcellular levels in juvenile and adult brain. Likewise, in mice lacking full-length dystrophin isoforms (mdx mice), no change in utrophin expression and distribution could be detected in brain, although utrophin was markedly up-regulated in muscle cells. These results suggest that utrophin and dystrophin are independently regulated and have distinct functional roles in CNS neurons.

Age Factors↗

mRNA expression patterns of the cGMP-hydrolyzing phosphodiesterases types 2, 5, and 9 during development of the rat brain.

Recent evidence indicates that cGMP plays an important role in neural development and neurotransmission. Since cGMP levels depend critically on the activities of phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzymes, mRNA expression patterns were examined for several key cGMP-hydrolyzing PDEs (type 2 [PDE2], 5 [PDE5], and 9 [PDE9]) in rat brain at defined developmental stages. Riboprobes were used for nonradioactive in situ hybridization on sections derived from embryonic animals at 15 days gestation (E15) and several postnatal stages (P0, P5, P10, P21) until adulthood (3 months). At all stages PDE9 mRNA was present throughout the whole central nervous system, with highest levels observed in cerebellar Purkinje cells, whereas PDE2 and PDE5 mRNA expression was more restricted. Like PDE9, PDE5 mRNA was abundant in cerebellar Purkinje cells, although it was observed only on and after postnatal day 10 in these cells. In other brain regions, PDE5 mRNA expression was minimal, detected in olfactory bulb, cortical layers, and in hippocampus. PDE2 mRNA was distributed more widely, with highest levels in medial habenula, and abundant expression in olfactory bulb, olfactory tubercle, cortex, amygdala, striatum, and hippocampus. Double immunostaining of PDE2, PDE5, or PDE9 mRNAs with the neuronal marker NeuN and the glial cell marker glial fibrillary acidic protein revealed that these mRNAs were predominantly expressed in neuronal cell bodies. Our data indicate that three cGMP-hydrolyzing PDE families have distinct expression patterns, although specific cell types coexpress mRNAs for all three enzymes. Thus, it appears that differential expression of PDE isoforms may provide a mechanism to match cGMP hydrolysis to the functional demands of individual brain regions.

Animals↗

Mapping of glial fibrillary acidic protein-immunoreactivity in the rat forebrain and mesencephalon by computerized image analysis.

Computer-assisted image analysis was used to map the regional distribution of glial fibrillary acidic protein-immunoreactive (GFAP-IR) astrocytes in the rat forebrain and mesencephalon. A complete survey of packing densities of GFAP-IR structures was performed. Computer maps revealed high values in the outer and inner layers of the cortex, some hippocampal and olfactory bulb layers, prepiriform cortex, dorsal part of the caudate-putamen, globus pallidus, lateral septum, reticular thalamic nucleus, lateral habenular nucleus, circumventricular organs, nuclei of the medial hypothalamus, substantia nigra, interpeduncular nucleus, and mamillary body. These correspond to regions of the embryonic pial and ventricular brain surfaces, which undergo developmental alterations including growth and various forms of internalization. From this we conclude that in the adult brain, astrocytes of high GFAP-IR are derivatives of surface-contact glia, whereas those located in areas having developed by the local thickening of the neural tube wall show reduced or no GFAP-IR.

Animals↗

Development of high-affinity choline transport sites in rat forebrain: a quantitative autoradiography study with [3H]hemicholinium-3.

The development of cholinergic terminals in rat brain has been quantitatively analyzed by [3H]hemicholinium-3 autoradiography. [3H]Hemicholinium-3 binds to high affinity choline transport sites, a specific marker for cholinergic neurons. In neonatal animals, kinetic and pharmacologic binding characteristics and regional distribution of [3H]hemicholinium-3 sites are consistent with specific cholinergic localization, as in the adult. The distribution of cholinergic terminals is described in the adult rat brain and during development, including heterogeneity of binding within several regions such as the striatum, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, cortex, and hippocampus. Early development and maturation vary greatly between brain regions. At embryonic day E18 and day 0, specific binding density is high only in the medial habenula. Development occurs primarily during the postnatal period in most brain regions examined. Many brain regions exhibit a lull in development between days 5 and 10, although the rate of development is highly region specific. Specific binding increases 2-12-fold between day 5 and adult animals, with adult density being achieved anywhere from day 15 to after day 21. The ontogeny of [3H]hemicholinium-3 binding sites generally occurs in a rostral to caudal direction. In the striatal body the characteristic lateral to medial gradient of binding site density is apparent by day 5, and development is more rapid in the lateral striatum. Patches of dense [3H]hemicholinium-3 binding coincident with acetylcholinesterase are observed on day 5 in the caudal striatum. The various patterns of cholinergic terminal development suggest that factors regulating cholinergic development are regional and complex.

Acetylcholine↗

Quantitative autoradiographic localization of [125I]insulin-like growth factor I, [125I]insulin-like growth factor II, and [125I]insulin receptor binding sites in developing and adult rat brain.

Insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF I and IGF II) and insulin itself, which are structurally related polypeptides, play an important role in regulating brain growth and development as well as in the maintenance of its normal functions during adulthood. In order to provide a substrate for the better understanding of the roles of these growth factors, we have investigated the anatomical distribution as well as the variation in the density of [125I]IGF I, [125I]IGF II, and [125I]insulin receptor binding sites in developing and adult rat brain by in vitro quantitative autoradiography. The distributional profile of [125I]IGF I, [125I]IGF II, and [125I]insulin receptor binding sites showed a widespread but selective regional localization throughout the brain at all stages of development. The neuroanatomic regions which exhibited relatively high density of binding sites with each of these radioligands include the olfactory bulb, cortex, hippocampus, choroid plexus, and cerebellum. However, in any given region, receptor binding sites for IGF I, IGF II, or insulin are concentrated in anatomically distinct areas. In the cerebellum, for example, [125I]IGF II receptor binding sites are concentrated in the granular cell layer, [125I]insulin binding sites are localized primarily in the molecular layer, whereas [125I]IGF I receptor binding sites are noted in relatively high amounts in granular as well as molecular cell layers. The apparent density of sites recognized by each radioligand also undergoes remarkable variation in most brain nuclei, being relatively high either during late embryonic (i.e., IGF I and IGF II) or early postnatal (i.e., insulin) stages and then declining gradually to adult levels around the third week of postnatal development. These results, taken together, suggest that each receptor-ligand system is regulated differently during development and thus may have different roles in the process of cellular growth, differentiation, and maintenance of the nervous system. Furthermore, the localization of [125I]IGF I, [125I]IGF II, and [125I]insulin receptor binding sites over a wide variety of physiologically distinct brain regions suggests possible involvement of these growth factors in a variety of functions associated with specific neuronal pathways.

Aging↗

Ionotropic glutamate-receptor gene expression in hypothalamus: localization of AMPA, kainate, and NMDA receptor RNA with in situ hybridization.

In situ hybridization and Northern blots were used to study the ionotropic subtypes of the glutamate receptor in the rat hypothalamus. Widespread expression of AMPA, kainate, and NMDA receptor RNA was found in the hypothalamus with the transcripts the same size and number as found in other regions of the brain. Most of the glutamate-receptor subunits studied were expressed in greater amounts in hippocampus than in hypothalamus; GluR5, on the other hand, showed a greater expression in hypothalamus than in hippocampus. On the basis of Northern blot analysis, all regions of the brain examined, including hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, olfactory bulb, and hippocampus, expressed all eight of the subunits studied. Each subunit showed different relative expressions in the different regions. In the hypothalamus, GluR1 and GluR2 were among the most widely expressed of the non-NMDA ionotropic receptors. Other AMPA-preferring receptors, GluR3 and -R4, were also found, but to a lesser extent. Scattered cells expressed the kainate-preferring receptors GluR5, -R6, and -R7. The NMDA receptor NMDAR1 was detected throughout the hypothalamus. In many regions of the hypothalamus, only scattered cells showed detectable expression of the glutamate-receptor mRNA as detected by autoradiographic silver grains over neurons; unlabeled cells were mixed among labeled cells. Every region of the hypothalamus had several different glutamate receptors. The expression of many different types of ionotropic glutamate receptors throughout the hypothalamus suggests that multiple modes of ion channel regulation by glutamate probably operate here and provides further support for the importance of the excitatory transmitter glutamate in hypothalamic regulation.

Animals↗

Regulated expression of alpha2B adrenoceptor during development.

There are three subtypes of alpha2 adrenoceptor, i.e., alpha2A, alpha2B, and alpha2C, mediating the specific effect of epinephrine and norepinephrine in various tissues by means of G protein-coupled signal transduction pathways. In an attempt to delineate the regulatory mechanism of the alpha2B receptor subtype (encoded by subtype gene Adra2b) expression in the central nervous system (CNS), we have established transgenic (Tg) mice lines in which the transgene (NN-lacZ) was composed of the promoter region of Adra2b (NcoI fragment, 4.7 kb immediately upstream from receptor coding region) and a reporter gene lacZ (encoding beta-galactosidase). The selective expression of alpha2B in brain as indexed by beta-galactosidase, under the direction of this promoter region, may be traced in situ by using X-gal staining. The expression pattern of Adra2b-NN-lacZ in CNS of Tg mice during development was examined. The temporal course of examination was from gestation day 9.5 (E9.5) to postnatal day 28 (P28). Significant X-gal staining was detected in the dorsal root ganglion and cranial nerves V and VII at E12.5. By E18.5, expression was noted in the cerebral cortex, anterior olfactory nucleus, hypothalamus, brainstem, and cerebellar Purkinje cells, among others, and persisted through postnatal development. Adra2b-NN-directed reporter expression was detected in the hippocampal dentate gyrus first at P4. The temporal course of expression up to P28 in this area is in accordance with the developmental profiles of granule neurons of dentate gyrus. From P7 on, transgene expression was detected in additional brain areas, including the septum and thalamus. The expression correlates well with the noradrenergic innervations as evidenced by colocalization by using tyrosine hydroxylase or dopamine-beta-hydroxylase immunocytochemistry.

Animals↗

A vertebrate gene related to orthodenticle contains a homeodomain of the bicoid class and demarcates anterior neuroectoderm in the gastrulating mouse embryo.

We studied the expression of two vertebrate homeobox genes, Otx1 and Otx2, related to orthodenticle, a gene expressed in the developing head of Drosophila. Both genes are expressed in restricted regions of the developing rostral brain including the presumptive cerebral cortex and olfactory bulbs. The expression patterns of the two genes in diencephalon suggest that they both have a role in establishing the boundary between presumptive dorsal and ventral thalamus. They are also expressed in regions of the developing olfactory, auricolar and ocular system, including the covering of the optic nerve. Otx1 expression is detectable from day 8 of gestation in telencephalic, diencephalic and mesencephalic regions. From day 10.5 of gestation its expression extends to some metencephalic areas. Otx2 appears to be already expressed in the epiblast of prestreak embryos. It persists in the entire embryonic ectoderm for some time after the onset of gastrulation. In midstreak embryos its expression appears progressively restricted to the anterior embryonic ectoderm corresponding to presumptive fore- and mid-brain. In early midgestation embryos it is expressed in telencephalic, diencephalic and mesencephalic regions but from day 11.75 of gestation its expression disappears from dorsal telencephalon and is confined to diencephalic and mesencephalic regions. Otx2 is one of the earliest genes expressed in the epiblast and immediately afterwards is expressed in anterior neuroectoderm, demarcating rostral brain regions even before headfold formation. Its gene product contains a homeodomain of the bicoid class and is able to recognize and transactivate a bicoid target sequence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Are there structural and functional modules in the vertebrate olfactory bulb?

A number of different recording methods have shown that odorants elicit patterns of neuronal activity widely distributed across cells of the olfactory receptor epithelium, olfactory bulb, and piriform cortex in the vertebrate olfactory system. These findings suggest that the physicochemical properties of odorant molecules are processed by distributed coding mechanisms activated in parallel in olfactory circuits in order to characterize a single, "monomolecular" odorant. These findings also suggest that the response patterns seen at higher levels are set up by differential responses in peripheral receptor cells of the olfactory epithelium. One requirement for understanding the details of this proposed encoding scheme is correlation of odor-generated patterns with the components of these circuits. In this paper, results from 2-deoxyglucose and voltage-sensitive dye studies suggest that certain components of these responses may relate to patterns established in reproducibly identifiable aggregates of bulbar cells. These findings are consistent with previous observations suggesting that columnar groups of periglomerular, mitral/tufted and granule cells, oriented perpendicular to the laminae of the bulb, are functionally related to one another. Such cell groups or modules, when activated in parallel, could serve as building block components of the complete ensemble response. According to this hypothesis, different sets of such modules would be activated with different odorant stimuli and modules could be shared to the degree to which the physicochemical properties of the different stimuli overlap.

Animals↗

Timing the doxycycline yields different patterns of genomic recombination in brain neurons with a new inducible Cre transgene.

We have developed a transgenic mouse expressing the Cre recombinase under control of a tetracycline-responsive promoter. Using a CamKIIalpha-driven tTA transgenic strain and a lacZ reporter mouse, we obtained the expected neuronal pattern of recombination in the olfactory lobe, cortex, striatum, hippocampus and Purkinje cells. Moreover, recombination can be completely abolished by feeding the mice doxycycline in their drinking water. We also show that it is possible to get a different pattern of recombination by changing the timing of the doxycycline-mediated shutdown of Cre expression. By starting the doxycycline treatment at birth, we restrict recombination to striatum only. This approach should be applicable to other inducible transgenic strains, thus increasing the number of available tissue-specific patterns for conditional knockouts. Also, our tetO-Cre transgene can be combined with any of the increasing number of tetracycline transactivator transgenic strains to direct specifically inducible genomic recombination to several areas of the brain.

Animals↗

Dynamic expression of de novo DNA methyltransferases Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b in the central nervous system.

To explore the role of DNA methylation in the brain, we examined the expression pattern of de novo DNA methyltransferases Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b in the mouse central nervous system (CNS). By comparing the levels of Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b mRNAs and proteins in the CNS, we showed that Dnmt3b is detected within a narrow window during early neurogenesis, whereas Dnmt3a is present in both embryonic and postnatal CNS tissues. To determine the precise pattern of Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b gene expression, we carried out X-gal histochemistry in transgenic mice in which the lacZ marker gene is knocked into the endogenous Dnmt3a or Dnmt3b gene locus (Okano et al. [1999] Cell 99:247-257). In Dnmt3b-lacZ transgenic mice, X-gal-positive cells are dispersed across the ventricular zone of the CNS between embryonic days (E) 10.5 and 13.5 but become virtually undetectable in the CNS after E15.5. In Dnmt3a-lacZ mice, X-gal signal is initially observed primarily in neural precursor cells within the ventricular and subventricular zones between E10.5 and E17.5. However, from the newborn stage to adulthood, Dnmt3a X-gal signal was detected predominantly in postmitotic CNS neurons across all the regions examined, including olfactory bulb, cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebellum. Furthermore, Dnmt3a signals in CNS neurons increase during the first 3 weeks of postnatal development and then decline to a relatively low level in adulthood, suggesting that Dnmt3a may be of critical importance for CNS maturation. Immunocytochemistry experiments confirmed that Dnmt3a protein is strongly expressed in neural precursor cells, postmitotic CNS neurons, and oligodendrocytes. In contrast, glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes exhibit relatively weak or no Dnmt3a immunoreactivity in vitro and in vivo. Our data suggest that whereas Dnmt3b may be important for the early phase of neurogenesis, Dnmt3a likely plays a dual role in regulating neurogenesis prenatally and CNS maturation and function postnatally.

Animals↗

Distribution of the iron-regulating protein hepcidin in the murine central nervous system.

Iron serves as an essential trace element for all body tissues, including the central nervous system (CNS). Because iron deficiency as well as iron overload is known to cause damage to the mammalian brain, the maintenance of iron homeostasis is crucial. It has been discovered recently that hepcidin plays an essential role in iron metabolism outside the CNS. A defect in hepcidin expression is responsible for iron accumulation and mice over-expressing hepcidin die postnatally by a severe anemia. We have used RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry to investigate the cellular distribution of hepcidin mRNA and protein in brain, spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglia. Our results show a wide-spread distribution of hepcidin in different brain areas, including the olfactory bulb, cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus, mesencephalon, cerebellum, pons, spinal cord, as well as in dorsal root ganglia of the peripheral nervous system. Hepcidin immunoreactivity is not restricted to neurons, but can be detected in both neurons and GFAP-positive glia cells. Because hepcidin action in organs outside the CNS is linked to iron homeostasis, we speculate that it is also involved in such processes in the CNS, putatively together with other iron regulating proteins. Cellular mechanisms and functions of hepcidin in the CNS remain to be elucidated.

Animals↗

Central nervous system antigen (NS-5) and its presence during murine ontogenesis.

An antiserum raised by immunization of C3H.SW/Sn mice with cerebellum from 4-day-old C57BL/6J mice recognizes a cell surface component(s) [NS-5] present in different degrees on various parts of the mouse central nervous system. When analyzed by an antiserum- and complement-mediated cell cytotoxicity test and by the ability of various tissuesto absorb anti-NS-5 antiserum activity, the antigen(s) was detectable on cerebellum, retina, olfactory bulb, cortex, basal ganglia, and medulla but not on nonneural tissues with the exception of mature spermatozoa and 4-day-old kidney. The antigen(s) detected by the anti-NS-5 antiserum was found in similar quantities on young and adult rat and mouse cerebellum; however, it was not detectable on any of 16 clonal cell lines derived from the rat central nervous system. During preimplantation stages of murine development, the antigen could be detected on all cells of (2-4)-cell and (8-16)-cell stages and on the trophoblastic cells of blastocysts by indirect immunofluorescence, Embryos on day 9 of gestation, the earliest tested after implantation, expressed the antigen(s), but expression was restricted to the nervous system.

Animals↗

In vivo labeling of sigma receptors in mouse brain with [3H]4-phenyl-1-(4-phenylbutyl)piperidine.

4-Phenyl-1-(4-phenylbutyl)piperidine (4-PPBP) is a very potent ligand for sigma (Sigma) receptors. The present study was undertaken to evaluate [3H]4-PPBP as a radioligand for in vivo labeling of cerebral sigma receptors. After intravenous administration of [3H]4-PPBP to mice, there is high uptake of radioactivity in the brain. The regional distribution of radioactivity in the brain 2 h after intravenous injection of [3H]4-PPBP parallels the in vitro binding of the radioligand in rat brain (pons/medulla > cerebellum > or = prefrontal cortex > or = parietal cortex > hypothalamus > olfactory tubercle > or = thalamus > hippocampus > striatum). Pretreatment with haloperidol (2 mg/kg) significantly decreases the radioactivity measured in the brain 30-120 min after injection of [3H]4-PPBP. Pretreatment with unlabeled 4-PPBP or ifenprodil also significantly decreases radioactivity in the brain 2 h after injection of [3H]4-PPBP, in a dose-dependent manner. The in vivo binding of [3H]4-PPBP in the brain also is significantly inhibited by SL 82.0715, BMY 14802, 1,3-di-o-tolylguanidine (DTG), and (+)-enantiomers of pentazocine, SKF 10,047, and 3-PPP, but not by the corresponding (-)-enantiomers, consistent with stereoselectivity of inhibition obtained in in vitro binding studies. In contrast, pretreatment with dizocilpine and spiperone does not inhibit in vivo binding of [3H]4-PPBP. The results indicate that [3H]4-PPBP would be a suitable radioligand for in vivo labeling of sigma receptors in brain.

Animals↗

Cloning and functional characterization of DSCAML1, a novel DSCAM-like cell adhesion molecule that mediates homophilic intercellular adhesion.

DSCAM, a conserved gene involved in neuronal differentiation, is a member of the Ig superfamily of cell adhesion molecules. Herein, we report the functional characterization of a human DSCAM (Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule) paralogue, DSCAML1, located on chromosome 11q23. The deduced DSCAML1 protein contains 10 Ig domains, six fibronectin-III domains, and an intracellular domain, all of which are structurally identical to DSCAM. When compared to DSCAM, DSCAML1 protein showed 64% identity to the extracellular domain and 45% identity to the cytoplasmic domain. In the mouse brain, DSCAML1 is predominantly expressed in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, granule cells of the dentate gyrus, and in neurons of the cerebral cortex and olfactory bulb. Biochemical and immunofluorescence analyses indicated that DSCAML1 is a cell surface molecule that targets axonal features in differentiated PC12 cells. DSCAML1 exhibits homophilic binding activity that does not require divalent cations. Based on its structural and functional properties and similarities to DSCAM, we suggest that DSCAML1 may be involved in formation and maintenance of neural networks. The chromosomal locus for DSCAML1 makes it an ideal candidate for neuronal disorders (such as Gilles de la Tourette and Jacobsen syndromes) that have been mapped on 11q23.

Animals↗

Cloning and characterization of Disc1, the mouse ortholog of DISC1 (Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1).

We cloned the mouse ortholog of DISC1 (Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1), a candidate gene for schizophrenia. Disc1 is 3163 nucleotides long and has 60% identity with the human DISC1. Disc1 encodes 851 amino acids and has 56% identity with the human protein. Disc1 maps to the DISC1 syntenic region in the mouse, and genomic structure is conserved. A Disc1 splice variant deletes a portion of Disc1 beginning at amino acids orthologous to the human truncation. Bioinformatic analysis and cross-species comparisons revealed sequence conservation distributed across the genes and conservation of leucine zipper and coiled-coil domains in both orthologs. In situ hybridization in adult mouse brain revealed a restricted expression pattern, with highest levels in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and lower expression in CA1-CA3 of the hippocampus, cerebellum, cerebral cortex, and olfactory bulbs. Identification of Disc1 will facilitate the study of DISC1's function and creation of mouse models of DISC1 disruption.

Alternative Splicing↗

Cloning and functional expression of rat eag2, a new member of the ether-à-go-go family of potassium channels and comparison of its distribution with that of eag1.

A second mammalian gene for the ether-à-go-go (eag) potassium channel has been cloned from the rat, and its predicted protein sequence is 70% identical to that of rat ether-à-go-go1 with a further 10% conservatively replaced residues. The rat eag2 mRNA was predominantly expressed in neural tissue and was not detected in adult skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscle. Within the brain, its distribution overlaps that of rat ether-à-go-go1 in specific regions within the cortex and olfactory bulb, but was differentially distributed in other locations, being scanty within the cerebellum, and most notably present in the thalamus, inferior colliculus, and certain brainstem nuclei. Heterologous expression of rat eag2 in HEK-293 cells gave rise to a voltage-gated, noninactivating potassium current, active at the cells' resting potential and blocked by low nanomolar concentrations of cytosolic calcium. Thus, in neurones, this current is likely to impart a modulation in membrane conductance, which is sensitively responsive to resting internal calcium, and levels of electrical activity.

Animals↗