“…These Ca 2ϩ oscillations are mediated by Ca 2ϩ influx through VDCCs and involved in the inhibitory mechanism of melatonin secretion, which is known to be regulated by the parasympathetic activity in mammalian pineal glands. In addition to VDCCs (1,9,22,40), molecular and functional expressions of voltage-dependent K ϩ channels (1,4,7,8), nonselective cation channels (12,29), store-operated Ca 2ϩ channels (21), and cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (32) have been suggested in mammalian pineal glands. Furthermore, membrane currents presumably due to the large-conductance Ca 2ϩ -activated K ϩ (BK Ca ; also known as K Ca 1.1) channel activation have been recorded in mammalian pinealocytes (7,8,21,22).…”