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Birth, Life and Death of Dopaminergic Neurons in the Substantia Nigra pp 91–101Cite as

Substantia Nigra Control of Basal Ganglia Nuclei

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Part of the book series: Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementa ((NEURALTRANS,volume 73))

Abstract

The substantia nigra, located in the ventral mesencephalon, is one of the five nuclei that constitute the basal ganglia circuit, which controls voluntary movements.

It is divided into the pars compacta and the pars reticulata, which mainly contain dopaminergic and GABAergic cells respectively. Here we overview the electrophysiological properties of these substantia nigra neurons in the pars compacta and reticulata, together with their synaptic connections, and discuss the functional effects of dopaminergic and GABAergic inputs within the basal ganglia. We also examine the phenomenon that when a deficiency of dopamine (DA) occurs (e.g. in Parkinson's disease), there is an aberrant synaptic plasticity in the basal ganglia.

Moreover, we point out that the appearance of an altered pattern of neuronal firing (beta-oscillations) and synchrony among neurons in the subthalamic nucleus, the internal globus pallidus, and the substantia nigra pars reticulata has been related to motor symptoms and possibly, persistent degeneration of DA-containing neurons.

Finally, we believe that, based on pathophysiological data, new and significant targets for therapeutic intervention can be identified and tested.

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Abbreviations

DA:

Dopamine

GP:

Globus pallidus

GPi:

Internal part of the globus pallidus

GPe:

External part of the globus pallidus

SN:

Substantia nigra

SNr:

Substantia nigra pars reticulata

SNc:

Substantia nigra pars compacta

STN:

Subthalamic nucleus

SC:

Superior colliculus

TANs:

Tonically active interneurons

PD:

Parkinson's disease

6-OHDA:

6-hydroxydopamine

MPTP:

1-methyl 4-phenyl 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine

5-HT:

Serotonin

NA:

Noradrenaline

TTX:

Tetrodotoxin

cAMP:

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate

PKA:

Protein kinase A

IP3:

Inositol thriphosphate

GIRK:

G-protein linked potassium currents

SK:

Small-conductance Ca2+-dependent K+ channels

HCN:

Hyperpolarization-activated cation current

HVA:

High voltage-activated calcium channels

TRP:

Transient receptor potential channels

IPSPs:

Inhibitory postsynaptic potentials

REM:

Rapid eye movements

FEF:

Frontal eye fields

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Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to Peter S. Freestone, Ph.D. for reading the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Europeo di Ricerca sul Cervello, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143, Rome, Italy

    Nicola B. Mercuri

  2. Experimental Neurology Laboratory, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143, Rome, Italy

    Ezia Guatteo, Maria Letizia Cucchiaroni & Nicola B. Mercuri

  3. University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Viale Oxford, 00143, Rome, Italy

    Nicola B. Mercuri

Authors
  1. Ezia Guatteo
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  2. Maria Letizia Cucchiaroni
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  3. Nicola B. Mercuri
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicola B. Mercuri .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fac. Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Palermo, Corso Tukory 129, Palermo, 90134, Italy

    Giuseppe Giovanni

  2. Mario Negri, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche, Via Nazionale 8, Santa Maria Imbaro, 66030, Italy

    Vincenzo Di Matteo

  3. Mario Negri, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche, Via Nazionale 8, Santa Maria Imbaro, 66030, Italy

    Ennio Esposito

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© 2009 Springer-Verlag/Wien Printed in Germany

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Guatteo, E., Cucchiaroni, M.L., Mercuri, N.B. (2009). Substantia Nigra Control of Basal Ganglia Nuclei. In: Giovanni, G., Di Matteo, V., Esposito, E. (eds) Birth, Life and Death of Dopaminergic Neurons in the Substantia Nigra. Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementa, vol 73. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-92660-4_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-92660-4_7

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-211-92660-4

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