
T-type voltage-gated calcium channels are expressed in the dendrites of many neurons, although their functional interactions with postsynaptic receptors and contributions to synaptic signaling are not well understood. We combine electrophysiological and ultrafast two-photon calcium imaging to demonstrate that mGluR1 activation potentiates cerebellar Purkinje cell Cav3.1 T-type currents via a G-protein- and tyrosine-phosphatase-dependent pathway. Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic investigations on wild-type and Cav3.1 gene knock-out animals show that Cav3.1 T-type channels are preferentially expressed in Purkinje cell dendritic spines and colocalize with mGluR1s. We further demonstrate that parallel fiber stimulation induces fast subthreshold calcium signaling in dendritic spines and that the synaptic Cav3.1-mediated calcium transients are potentiated by mGluR1 selectively during bursts of excitatory parallel fiber inputs. Our data identify a new fast calcium signaling pathway in Purkinje cell dendritic spines triggered by short burst of parallel fiber inputs and mediated by T-type calcium channels and mGluR1s.
Male, Mice, Knockout, Aging, Dendritic Spines, In Vitro Techniques, Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate, Cell Line, Membrane Potentials, Rats, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Calcium Channels, T-Type, Mice, Purkinje Cells, Synapses, Animals, Humans, Calcium Signaling, Rats, Wistar
Male, Mice, Knockout, Aging, Dendritic Spines, In Vitro Techniques, Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate, Cell Line, Membrane Potentials, Rats, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Calcium Channels, T-Type, Mice, Purkinje Cells, Synapses, Animals, Humans, Calcium Signaling, Rats, Wistar
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 92 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
