Calcium Electrogenesis and Neuronal Functioning

The present book is the outcome of a symposium on cal cium electrogenesis and neuronal functioning, held in January 1985 in the Ringberg Castle of the Max Planck Society, located at the Tegernsee in Bavaria. People from various fields in the neurosciences came together in order to discuss the physiological characteris tics of calcium currents in nerve cells and the implications for an improved understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of the central nervous system. The chap ters deal with the physical and pharmacological properties of calcium currents, the role of calcium in neurotransmis sion and secretion, aspects of neuroplasticity, epilepsy, and their behavioral implications. The 60th anniversary of Hans Dieter Lux served as the occasion to gather a substantial number of his colleagues to one of the most fascinating fields in present neuroscience. We felt that this was the appropriate way to honour Hans Dieter Lux for his impor tant contributions to our understanding of the central nerv ous system. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Volkswagen-Stiftung, the German EEG Society, and the Max Planck Society for their support of the symposium. We also wish to express our gratitude to the following com panies for sponsoring this volume: Fa. List Elektronik, Darmstadt; Fa. Zeiss, Oberkochen; Fa. Sandoz, Basel; Fa. Janssen, Neuss; Fa. Bayer, Leverkusen; Fa. Knoll, Ludwigs hafen; Fa. Merck, Darmstadt. The editors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Springer-Verlag in editing this book, and the expert secre tarial assistance of G. Trinkel, U. Roessler, and B.

Outcome of a Symposium Held January 1985 in the Ringberg Castle

Low- and High-Voltage Activated Ca Channels in Vertebrate Cultured Neurons: Properties and Functions.- Calcium Channels and cAMP Metabolism in Nerve Cells.- Activation and Inactivation of Single Calcium Channels in Cardiac Cells.- Mechanism for Calcium-Dependent Inactivation of Ca Current.- Voltage-Dependent Repriming of Inactivated Calcium Current in Identified Helix Neurons.- Calcium Spikes and Inward Currents in Mammalian Peripheral and Central Neurones.- Bursting Pacemaking in Helix Neurons: A Nonspecific Membrane Current Activated by Intracellular Calcium.- Concentration Profiles of Intracellular Calcium in the Presence of a Diffusible Chelator.- Action of Dihydropyridines on Ca Channels.- Blockade of Neuronal Calcium Conductances by Organic Antagonists.- Rapid Photoinactivation of Nifedipine in Heart Muscle: Implications on the Kinetics and Role of Ca2+ Channel in Generation of Tension.- Pharmacological Aspects of Ca-Activated K Conductance in Molluscan Neurons.- Two Calcium Currents in Normal Rat Anterior Pituitary Cells Identified by a Plaque Assay.- Calcium, A Cofactor in Neuromuscular Transmission.- Intracellular Signals in Stimulation of Enzyme Secretion from Exocrine Glands.- Muscarinic Modulation in the Neostriatum: Possible Involvement of Calcium.- Beta-Adrenergic Control of Calcium Channels in Cardiac Myocytes.- Regulation of Calcium Currents and Synaptic Transmitter Release.- Role of Ionic Channels in Exocrine Gland Secretion.- 5-Alpha Dihydrotestosterone Alters the Properties of Acetylcholine Activated Ion Channels in Androgen Concentrating Myotubes.- Depression of Calcium Currents of Chick Sensory Neurons by Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Persists After Elimination of Other Net Membrane Currents.- Neuromodulation by Adenosine and the Effect on Ion Fluxes.- The Nerve-Muscle Junction: A Remodelling Contact.- A Possible Role of Calcium Currents in Developmental Plasticity.- Ca-Dependent and Ca-Independent F-Actin Capping Proteins Determine Microfilament Assembly in Neuronal Cells.- Aspects of the Action of Excitatory Amino Acids on Hippocampal CA1 Neurons.- Stimulus-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity in Area CA1 of the in Vitro Hippocampal Slice of Rats.- Calcium Antagonistic Properties of Antimanic Compounds.- A Possible Role for Calcium in the Modulation of Behavior.- Contribution of Ca-Mediated Events to Epileptogenesis.- Synaptic and Intrinsic Mechanisms of Synchronization and Epiletogenesis in the Neocortex.- Mechanisms Regulating Synchronization of Hippocampal Epileptiform Activity.- Fast Extracellular Ionic Changes and Neuronal Synchronization in Neocortical Epileptogenesis.- Epileptogenesis in Low Extracellular Calcium.- Ionic Properties of Burst Generation in Hippocampal Pyramidal Cell Somata "in Vitro".- Effect of Organic Calcium Channel Blockers on Neuronal Calcium-Dependent Processes.- Involvement of Calcium Ions in Focal Epileptic Activity of the Neocortex.- Ammonia and Seizures.- The Role of Glial Cells in Ion Homeostasis in the Retina of the Honeybee Drone.- Calculation of Ionic and Volume Changes in the Bee Retina.

Outcome of a Symposium Held January 1985 in the Ringberg Castle