Postsynaptic N-type or P/Q-type calcium channels mediate long-term potentiation by group I metabotropic glutamate receptors in the trigeminal oralis.

Both N-type and P/Q-type voltage-gated Ca (S)-3,5-Dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG; 10μM for 5min), the group I mGluR agonist, was used to induce LTP of excitatory postsynaptic currents that were evoked in the Vo neurons by stimulating the trigeminal track. Weak blockade of the N-type or P/Q-type VGCCs by ω-conotoxin GVIA or ω-agatoxin IVA, respectively, which inhibited only 20-40% of Ca Our data suggest that postsynaptic N-type and P/Q-type VGCCs mediate the DHPG-induced LTP at the trigeminal afferent synapses in the Vo.