Low-threshold L-type calcium channels in rat dopamine neurons

Ca2+ channel subtypes expressed by dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) were studied using whole cell patch-clamp recordings and blockers selective for different channel types (L, N, and P/Q). Nimodipine (Nim, 2 muM), omega-conotoxin GVIA (Ctx, 1 muM), or omega-agatoxin IVA (Atx, 50 nM) blocked 27, 36, and 37% of peak whole cell Ca2+ channel current, respectively, indicating the presence of L-, N-, and P-type channels. Nim blocked approximately twice as much Ca2+ channel current near activation threshold compared with Ctx or Atx, suggesting that small depolarizations preferentially opened L- type versus N- or P-type Ca2+ channels. N- and L-channels in DA neurons opened over a significantly more negative voltage range than those in rat dorsal root ganglion cells, recorded from using identical conditions. These data provide an explanation as to why Ca2+-dependent spontaneous oscillatory potentials and rhythmic firing in DA neurons are blocked by L- channel but not N-channel antagonists and suggest that pharmacologically similar Ca2+ channels may exhibit different thresholds for activation in different types of neurons.