Modulation of Calcium Channels in Neurons

9511020个亚当斯神经细胞通过称为神经递质和神经激素的化学信号相互通信。电脉冲到达神经末梢时，会释放少量作用于局部的神经递质，或大量作用于较远距离的神经荷尔蒙；两者都会刺激邻近神经细胞的电活动。这些化学信号的释放依赖于钙离子短暂地进入神经末梢，这一过程受到“钙通道”的高度调控。少量的钙进入神经递质释放，而更长时间的钙进入是荷尔蒙释放所必需的。这些差异在很大程度上是由不同钙通道性质的不同决定的。亚当斯博士和他的同事们正在结合电生理学和药理学，研究从运动神经元到神经内分泌细胞等不同类型神经细胞中钙通道的特性。钙通道的开放和关闭的动力学以及它们对不同药物和毒素的敏感性将被用来将它们划分为不同的组，并将它们与神经细胞中不同的功能联系起来。这些研究的潜在应用是药物和虫害防治剂的开发。

9511020 Adams Nerve cells communicate with each other by means of chemical signals called neurotransmitters and neurohormones. The arrival of electrical impulses at nerve endings release tiny amounts of neurotransmitters acting locally or much larger amounts of neurohormones acting at longer distances; both stimulate the electrical activity in neighboring nerve cells. The release of these chemical signals depends on the brief entry of calcium to nerve terminals, a process that is highly regulated by "calcium channels". Small amounts of calcium enter for neurotransmitter release, whereas larger and longer periods of calcium entry are necessary for the release of hormones. These differences are to a large extent dictated by variations in the properties of different calcium channels. Dr. Adams and his colleagues are working to define the properties of calcium channels in different types of nerve cells, ranging from motoneurons to neuroendocrine cells, using a combination of electrophysiology and pharmacology. The kinetics of calcium channel opening and closing as well as their sensitivities to different drugs and toxins will be used to classify them into different groups and to associated them with different functions in nerve cells. Potential applications of these studies are the development of pharmaceuticals and pest control agents.