Parkinson's Disease Research

750 Words2 Pages

Current research on Parkinson’s disease (PD) examines the effects of deteriorating dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra causing modifications in the basal ganglia circuitry1. The prevailing model behind this understanding is the classical model: activation of the direct pathway MSNs stimulates movement while activation of the indirect inhibits4. The idea is that motor deficits observed in PD are caused by an underactive direct pathway and an overactive indirect pathway. This research examined the classical model by studying the activity of specific basal ganglia structures using optogenetics to control the activity of direct and indirect pathway MSNs. The rationale for this study was to investigate this model in a controlled experimental …show more content…

This study promotes new research to identify mechanisms to modulate direct pathway circuitry and helps to identify effective therapeutic approaches for motor deficits2. The implication of the knowledge of basal ganglia circuitry in developing therapies could only be validated with further empirical analysis.
References
1. Blandini, F., Nappi, G., Tassorelli, C., & Martignoni, E. (2000). Functional changes of the basal ganglia circuitry in parkinson's disease. Progress in Neurobiology, 62(1), 63-88. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0301-0082(99)00067-2
2. Gerfen, C. R., Surmeier D.J. (2011) Modulation of striatal projection systems by dopamine. Annual Revenue Neurosci. 34:441-66. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21469956
3. Kravitz, A. V., Freeze, B. S., Parker, P. R. L., Kay, K., Thwin, M. T., Deisseroth, K., & Kreitzer, A. C. (2010). Regulation of parkinsonian motor behaviours by optogenetic control of basal ganglia circuitry. Nature, S19-S23C. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/756838430?accountid=14771
4. Obeso, J. A., Oroz, M. C., Rodriguez, M., Lanciego, J. L., Artieda, J., Gonzalo, N., & Olanow, C. W (2000). Pathophysiology of the basal ganglia in Parkinson’s disease. Trends Neurosci. 23(10), S8

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Parkinson's Disease Research

Tourette syndrome's Description and Analysis

Clozapine and the Treatment of Schizophrenia

Tardive Dyskinesia and Schizophrenia

Hypokinetic Dysarthria