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Chapter 49

Neurotransmitters and Disordersof the Basal Ganglia

Copyright © 2012, American Society for Neurochemistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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FIGURE 49-1: Simplified diagram demonstrating the anatomical connections within the basal ganglia circuitry. Abbreviations: GPe, external pallidal segment; STN, subthalamic nucleus; GPi, internal pallidal segment; SNr, substantia nigra pars reticulata; SNc, substantia nigra pars compacta; PPN, pedunculopontine nucleus; CM, centromedian nucleus of the thalamus; VA, ventral anterior nucleus of the thalamus; VL, ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus. Grey arrows denote excitatory connections, black arrows identify inhibitory (GABAergic) connections. Figure from Galvan et al., Clin Neurophysiol 119:1459–1474 (2008), with permission.

Copyright © 2012, American Society for Neurochemistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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FIGURE 49-2: Synthesis and metabolism of dopamine. MAO, monoamine oxidase; COMT, catechol-O-methyltransferase; HVA,: homovanillic acid; DOPAC, 3,4–dihydroxyphenylacetic acid.

Copyright © 2012, American Society for Neurochemistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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FIGURE 49-3: Changes in the activity of single cells in GPe, STN or GPi of MPTP-treated monkeys . Shown are examples of separate neurons, recorded with standard methods for extracellular electrophysiologic recording in normal and parkinsonian animals. Each data segment is 5 seconds in duration. Figure from Galvan et al., Clin Neurophysiol 119:1459–1474 (2008), with permission.

Copyright © 2012, American Society for Neurochemistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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FIGURE 49-4: A. Huntingtin distribution in a normal control in cortex (visualized using an antibody recognizing the internal epitope of the huntingtin molecule). B. Huntingtin aggregates in cortex a patient with Huntington’s disease (visualized with an antibody recognizing the N-terminal epitope of huntingtin). Both images were taken at same magnification. Courtesy of Dr. Claire-Anne Gutekunst (Emory University).

Copyright © 2012, American Society for Neurochemistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.