AUTHOR=Ghosh Abhinaba , Carew Samantha J. , Chen Xihua , Yuan Qi 

TITLE=The Role of L-type Calcium Channels in Olfactory Learning and Its Modulation by Norepinephrine

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fncel.2017.00394

DOI=10.3389/fncel.2017.00394

ISSN=1662-5102

ABSTRACT=<p>L type calcium channels (LTCCs) are prevalent in different systems and hold immense importance for maintaining/performing selective functions. In the nervous system, CaV<sub>1.2</sub> and CaV<sub>1.3</sub> are emerging as critical modulators of neuronal functions. Although the general role of these calcium channels in modulating synaptic plasticity and memory has been explored, their role in olfactory learning is not well understood. In this review article we first discuss the role of LTCCs in olfactory learning especially focusing on early odor preference learning in neonate rodents, presenting evidence that while NMDARs initiate stimulus-specific learning, LTCCs promote protein-synthesis dependent long-term memory (LTM). Norepinephrine (NE) release from the locus coeruleus (LC) is essential for early olfactory learning, thus noradrenergic modulation of LTCC function and its implication in olfactory learning is discussed here. We then address the differential roles of LTCCs in adult learning and learning in aged animals.</p>