Calbindin controls release probability in ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons

Using high-fidelity imaging of pHluorin-tagged vesicular monoamine transporter 2, the authors report differences in coupling of calcium entry and exocytosis between different populations of dopamine neurons. In ventral tegmental area neurons, exocytosis is controlled by calbindin-D28k, and this maintains a lower vesicular release probability as compared with substantia nigra neurons.