Table 1.

The key channels and receptors that are known to control dopamine release through modulation of axonal excitability.

Channel types		Effect on dopamine transmission	Mechanisms in the axon	Region	References
K+	Kv1.2	Activation inhibits release	Action potential kinetics and repolarization via D-type currents	DS	Xiao et al. (2021)
	Kv1.4	Activation inhibits release	Action potential kinetics and repolarization via A-type currents	DS	Xiao et al. (2021)
	SK	Activation inhibits release	Unknown	DS	Zhang and Sulzer (2003)
	K-ATP	Activation inhibits release	Unknown	DS	Patel et al. (2011)
Na+	Nav	Activation promotes release	Resting membrane potential controls Nav availability through inactivation.	DS, NAc	Kramer et al. (2020) and Xiao et al. (2021)
	Nav1.2	Knockout reduces dopamine release	Reduced action potential height and Na+ currents	VTA, NAc	Li et al., 2025
Ca2+	L-type	Activation promotes release	Unknown	DS	Brimblecombe et al. (2015)
	T-type	Activation promotes release	Unknown	DS	Brimblecombe et al. (2015)
	N-type	Activation promotes release	Action potential-depedent Ca2+ entry	DS, NAc	Brimblecombe et al. (2015) and Sgobio et al. (2014)
	P/Q-type	Activation promotes release	Action potential-depedent Ca2+ entry	DS, NAc	Brimblecombe et al. (2015) and Sgobio et al. (2014)

Neuromodulator	Receptors	Effect on dopamine release	Mechanism (hypothesized or known)	Region	References
Acetylcholine	nAChR	Activation can promote or inhibit release	Excitation of distal axons and action potential initiation. Unknown mechanism of inhibition.	DS, NAc	Kramer et al. (2022), Liu et al. (2022), and Zhang et al. (2025)
	M1-like mAChR	Activation potentiates release	Unknown	NAc	Shin et al. (2015)
	M2- like mAChR	Limits dopamine release in a frequency dependent manner	Decreased ACh release and reduced nAChR activation on dopaminergic axons.	NAc shell	Shin et al. (2017)
GABA	GABAA	Activation inhibits release	Na + channel inactivation from depolarization and shunting inhibition	Medial forebrain bundle, DS	Kramer et al. (2020)
	GABAB	Activation inhibits release	Unknown	DMS	Holly et al. (2021)
Dopamine	D2R	Activation inhibits release	Potentiation of Kv1 currents and inhibition of Ca2 + currents	DS, NAc	Martel et al. (2011) and Sgobio et al. (2014)
	DAT	Activation reduces short term depression	Electrogenic current alters resting potential	DS, NAc	Condon et al. (2019)

If known, the underlying mechanism is also summarized.