Calbindin controls release probability in ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons.

ABSTRACT: Relatively little is known about the molecular control of midbrain dopamine release. Using high-fidelity imaging of pHluorin-tagged vesicular monoamine transporter 2 in dopamine neurons, we found that exocytosis was more loosely coupled to calcium entry than in fast synapses. In ventral tegmental area neurons, this allows exocytosis to be efficiently controlled by a native fast calcium buffer, calbindin-D28k, maintaining a lower vesicular release probability compared with substantia nigra neurons.

SUBMITTER: Pan PY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3703651 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature