T-type calcium channel as a new therapeutic target for tremor.

Abstract

Voltage-gated calcium channels play an important role in many physiological and pathological processes. Accumulating studies suggest that the T-type calcium channel is a potential target for the treatment of various neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, insomnia, and neuropathic pain. Here, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of T-type calcium channel regulation and their implications for tremor disorders. Several T-type calcium channel blockers effectively suppressed experimental tremors that have been suggested to originate from either the cerebellum or basal ganglia. Among T-type calcium channel blockers that have been used clinically, the anti-tremor efficacy of zonisamide garnered our attention. Based on both basic and clinical studies, the possibility is emerging that T-type calcium channel blockers that transit into the central nervous system may have therapeutic potentials for tremor disorders.

• Authors: Hideto Miwa, Tomoyoshi Kondo
• Journal: Cerebellum (London, England) (Cerebellum) Vol. 10 Issue 3 Pg. 563-9 (Sep 2011) ISSN: 1473-4230 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21479969 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Calcium Channel Blockers
• Calcium Channels, T-Type

Topics

• Animals
• Calcium Channel Blockers (therapeutic use)
• Calcium Channels, T-Type (metabolism)
• Humans
• Models, Biological
• Tremor (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)