Topic: Ca2+ homeostasis

Background: Microglia activation is an early response in ischemic brain injury, which initiates neuroinflammation. Microglia express Sigma-1 receptors (Sig-1R) at the mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM) of the endoplasmic reticulum(ER), which have been implicated in cellular stress responses. Here we set out to evaluate whether the Sig-1R agonist N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) modulates microglia activation. Materials and methods: Isolated microglia cultures were prepared from the cortex of neonatal Sprague Dawley rats. On day 6, the cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS;20ng/ml) o

Maintaining Ca2+ homeostasis is extremely important for the nervous system. Fluctuations in extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]e) are very frequent, both under physiological and pathological conditions. Among extracellular calcium sensors, the Calcium-Sensing Receptor (CaSR), is a G-protein coupled receptor activated by [Ca2+]e and is ubiquitously expressed in the body. The CaSR is expressed in brain regions involved in memory and cognition, however the mechanisms by which CaSR regulates neuronal function remain unexplored.We therefore studied how CaSR regulates neuronal excitability in t