Stores not just for storage: Intracellular calcium release and synaptic plasticity

Activation of most excitatory synapses of central neurons produces calcium release signals from intracellular stores. Synaptically evoked calcium release from stores is frequently triggered by the binding of glutamate to metabotropic receptors and the subsequent activation of IP₃ receptors in spines and dendrites. There is increasing evidence for the presence of local calcium signals caused by calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) through activation of ryanodine or IP₃ receptors. Recent work on mutant mice indicates that store signaling determines activity-dependent synaptic plasticity.