Calcium and Neural Stem Cell Proliferation.

Intracellular calcium plays a pivotal role in central nervous system (CNS) development by regulating various processes such as cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and maturation. However, understanding the involvement of calcium (Ca) in these processes during CNS development is challenging due to the dynamic nature of this cation and the evolving cell populations during development. While Ca transient patterns have been observed in specific cell processes and molecules responsible for Ca homeostasis have been identified in excitable and non-excitable cells, further research into Ca dynamics and the underlying mechanisms in neural stem cells (NSCs) is required. This review focuses on molecules involved in Ca entrance expressed in NSCs in vivo and in vitro, which are crucial for Ca dynamics and signaling. It also discusses how these molecules might play a key role in balancing cell proliferation for self-renewal or promoting differentiation. These processes are finely regulated in a time-dependent manner throughout brain development, influenced by extrinsic and intrinsic factors that directly or indirectly modulate Ca dynamics. Furthermore, this review addresses the potential implications of understanding Ca dynamics in NSCs for treating neurological disorders. Despite significant progress in this field, unraveling the elements contributing to Ca intracellular dynamics in cell proliferation remains a challenging puzzle that requires further investigation.