The Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger is important in maintaining low intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration in neurons. Normally the exchanger is thought to provide the principle efflux pathway for Ca²⁺. However, the exchanger is reversible and under certain conditions (e.g., depolarization) can contribute to Ca²⁺ influx.

Simplified model of zinc plasma membrane transport in a hippocampal neuron that sequesters zinc in synaptic vesicles.

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