Different intracellular pools participate in generating Ca2+ signals in neu
ronal cells and in shaping their spatio-temporal patterns. They include the
endoplasmic reticulum (endowed with different classes of Ca2+ channels, wi
th distinct functional properties and highly defined expression patterns in
the brain), the Golgi apparatus, and the mitochondria. The release of Ca2 from intracellular pools plays an important role in controlling processes
such as neurite outgrowth, synaptic plasticity, secretion and neurodegenera
tion.