| Description: | Calcium channel CaV3.1 (a1G) is a low-voltage-activated T-type calcium channel. Such T-type channels are expressed throughout the body. In the heart, they may be involved in pacemaker current. In neurons, these channels may play a secondary pacemaker role (1). With the ubiquitous expression, it is not surprising that alterations in channel function have been implicated in disease. Drugs that act to block T-type calcium channels are used as anti-hypertensives, antiepileptic's, and blocking of T-type calcium channels may be involved in the action of some anesthetics and antipsychotics as well (1). Much remains to be determined about the precise cellular localization, in vivo physiological roles, roles in disease states and possible routes to modulate their structure/function to ameliorate effects of disease. |
