King's College London

Regulation of extracellular Ca²⁺ influx by neuronal activity is a key mechanism underlying synaptic plasticity. At the neuronal synapse, activity-dependent Ca²⁺ entry involves N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs); the relationship between NMDARs and VGCCs, however, is poorly understood. Here, we report that neuronal activity rapidly (1h) regulates recruitment of R-type VGCCs in hippocampal neurons through synaptic NMDAR signalling. This finding reveals a link between two key neuronal signalling pathways, suggesting a feedback mode for regulation of synaptic Ca²⁺ signalling.