Commentary Cellscience Reviews Vol 4 No 4 ISSN 1742-8130

The calcium-sensing receptor: a new role as a modulator of neurite outgrowth

During the course of their development axons and dendrites integrate a range of cues to create specific patterns of connectivity. A recent report by Vizard et al now suggests that it is not only the cytosolic, but also the extracellular Ca²⁺ concentration which governs their development and formation. Their work reveals that the Ca²⁺-sensing receptor (CaSR), a 7-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor which binds extracellular Ca²⁺, triggers and modulates neurite outgrowth within the developing and possibly also the adult brain.

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