Calcium Channel CaV2.3 Subunits Regulate Hepatic Glucose Production by Modulating Leptin-Induced Excitation of Arcuate Pro-opiomelanocortin Neurons (Cell Reports)

Smith et al. show that an R-type calcium channel containing the pore subunit Cacna1e mediates long-term depolarization of hypothalamic POMC neurons by leptin. Mice with POMC neuron knockdown of Cacna1e display elevated hepatic glucose production, demonstrating that leptin utilizes Cacna1e in POMC neurons to regulate glucose homeostasis.