Abstract
1. Using laser-scanning confocal microscopy, fast Ca2+ transients were recorded in individual not yet myelinated axons of Purkinje neurones in cerebellar slices from young rats. Axonal Ca2+ transients could be detected during a single action potential and had progressively larger amplitudes when the number of action potentials was increased. 2. Under voltage-clamp conditions, axonal Ca2+ transients were as large as those observed in dendrites and in the cell body. Axonal Ca2+ transients were completely blocked by 100 nM of the neurotoxin ω-agatoxin IVA, indicating that they were caused by Ca2+ entry through P-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. 3. In conclusion, our results demonstrate action potential-mediated Ca2+ entry through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in axons of cerebellar Purkinje neurones. Experimental evidence indicates that the resulting transient Ca2+ accumulations regulate the frequency of action potentials travelling along the axon.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 641-647 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Physiology |
Volume | 495 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 15 Sep 1996 |
Externally published | Yes |