Substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons

Kaxp channels under investigation resulted in selective rescue of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons does not prove a deleterious, neurodegeneration-promoting role of Katp channels, but may simply mean that the dopamine neurons, lacking KATP channels, have developed other, undetected self-protection mechanisms. 

Freeman AS, Meltzer LT, Bunney BS (1985) Firing properties of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in freely moving rats. Life Sci 36 1983-1994. 

Paladini CA, Tepper JM (1999) GABA(A) and GABA(B) antagonists differentially affect the firing pattern of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in vivo. Synapse 32 165-176. 

Hagg T, Varon S (1993) Ciliary neurotrophic factor prevents degeneration of adult rat substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in vivo. Pioc Natl Acad Sci USA 90(13) 6315-6319. 

Substantia nigra Dopaminergic neurons Yes Axotomy Hagg, 1994... 

Substantia nigra Dopaminergic neurons ( DA metabolism in striatum Altar et al., 1994a... 

Neuromelanin, a dark colored pigment and product of the oxidative metabolism of dopamine, is found in the cytoplasm of dopaminergic neurons of the human substantia nigra pars compacta. Neuromelanin deposits increase with age, matching the age distribution of Parkinson s disease. In the absence of significant quantities of iron, neuromelanin can act as an antioxidant in... 

While advances in the symptomatic drug therapy (summarized below) have certainly improved the lives of many Parkinson patients, the goal of current research is to develop treatments that can prevent, retard or reverse the death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pats compacta (and of other neurons involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson s disease not mentioned in this essay). 

DAT (SLC6A3) Dopamine -5 CNS dopaminergic neurons (emanate from substantia nigra, other mid brain nuclei, hypothalamus) ... 

The nigrostriatal tract is one of the four main dopaminergic pathways in the central nervous system. About 75% of the dopamine in the brain occurs in the nigrostriatal pathway with its cell bodies in the substantia nigra, whose axons project in the corpus striatum. Degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal system results in Parkinsons disease. 

Ruffieux, A., and Schultz, W. Dopaminergic activation of reticulata neurones in the substantia nigra. Nature 285 240-241, 1980. 

Bums, R.S. Chieuh, C.C. Markey, S.P. Ebert, M.H. Jacobowitz, D.M. and Kopin, I.J. A primate model of parkinsonism Selective destraction of dopaminergic neurons in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra by n-methyl-4-phenyl-l,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine.. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 80 4546-4550, 1983. 

Figure 7.4 Summary of some of the wide array of afferent and efferent connections of midbrain dopaminergic neurons (SN/A9, RRF/A8, and VTA/A10 in center of figure). This emphasizes their potential involvement in coordination of seemingly disparate behaviors inclusive of the sleep-wake state of the organism. Abbreviations BP, blood pressure BST, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis CEA, central nucleus of the amygdala MEA, midbrain extrapyramidal area NTS, nucleus of the solitary tract O2, oxygen tension PPN, pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus RRF, retrorubral field SN, substantia nigra VTA, ventral tegmental area.

---