All L-type calcium channels are encoded by one of the CaV1 channel genes. These channels play a major role as a Ca2+ entry pathway in skeletal cardiac and smooth muscles as well as in neurons, endocrine cells and possibly in non-excitable cells such as hematopoetic and epithelial cells. All CaV1 channels are influenced by dihydropyridines (DHP) and are also referred to as DHP receptors. While the CaV1.1 and CaV1.4 isoforms are expressed in restricted tissues (skeletal muscle and retina, respectively), the expression of CaV1.2 is ubiquitous.nThe CaV1.3 channels are also expressed, as are other L-type channels, in neurons and neuroendocrine cells. However, accumulated data has shown the expression of CaV1.3 in heart and suggests that it plays a major role in the generation of cardiac pacemaker activity.
