In the present study, we used immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis to determine region-specific changes in the distribution of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) in aged rat cerebellum. Age-dependent changes in the staining intensity of the α 1C and α 1D subunits were prominent in the Purkinje cells, whereas there was no change in the expression of the α 1A and α 1B subunits. In the aged rat, in particular, immunoreactivity for the α 1C subunits were increased in the dendrites as well as in the cell bodies of Purkinje cells. On the other hand, decreases in immunoreactivity for α 1A and α 1D subunits were found in the molecular or granular layers. However, only α 1D subunit immunoreactivity was decreased in the aged cerebellum membrane by Western blot analysis that, while not addressing regional specificity, further confirmed an age-related decrease in α 1D subunit. These age-related changes in α 1D subunit expression might reflect a gradual loss of regulation for L-type Ca 2+ channels in the senescent period. The first demonstration of age-related alterations in VGCC expression may provide useful data for future investigations on aging and neurodegenerative diseases.