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Inhibition of N‐ and P/Q‐type Ca 2+ channels by cannabinoid receptors in single cerebrocortical nerve terminals
Author(s) -
Godino M.C.,
Torres M.,
Sánchez-Prieto J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2004.12.065
Subject(s) - glutamate receptor , cannabinoid , chemistry , excitatory postsynaptic potential , neurotransmission , cannabinoid receptor , biophysics , receptor , neuroscience , biochemistry , biology , agonist
Since cannabinoid receptors inhibit excitatory synaptic transmission by reducing glutamate release, we have examined whether this might occur through the direct inhibition of presynaptic Ca 2+ channels. In cerebrocortical nerve terminals, activation of cannabinoid receptors with WIN55,212‐2 reduces the KCl‐evoked release of glutamate. However, this inhibition is attenuated when N‐ and P/Q‐type Ca 2+ channels are blocked. Through Ca 2+ imaging in single nerve terminals, we found that WIN55,212‐2 reduced the influx of Ca 2+ both in nerve terminals that contain N‐type Ca 2+ channels and those that contain P/Q‐type Ca 2+ channels. Thus, cannabinoid receptors modulate the two major Ca 2+ channels coupled to glutamate release in the cerebral cortex.