Cortico-basal ganglia-cortical circuitry in Parkinson's disease reconsidered

Exp Neurol. 2008 Jul;212(1):226-9. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2008.04.001. Epub 2008 Apr 15.

Abstract

The classical model of the cortico-basal ganglia-cortical circuit, with its indirect and direct pathways, was developed to explain the phenomenon of hypokinesia in Parkinson's disease (PD). The model has undergone refinement, but the emphasis on the basal ganglia side of the equation (dopamine deficiency in the dorsal striatum) remains. Here, a revised version of the basic model incorporates key non-dopaminergic connectivities known to become affected in the course of PD and, thus, the cortico-basal ganglia-cortical circuit appears within the context of the larger pathological process. The central roles of the corticostriatal projection, corticosubthalamic projection, and lower brainstem nuclei are emphasized.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Basal Ganglia / metabolism
  • Basal Ganglia / physiopathology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology*
  • Dopamine / deficiency*
  • Globus Pallidus / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Models, Neurological*
  • Neural Inhibition / physiology
  • Neural Pathways / metabolism
  • Neural Pathways / physiopathology
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology*
  • Subthalamic Nucleus / physiopathology
  • Ventral Thalamic Nuclei / physiopathology

Substances

  • Dopamine