Is the loss of thalamostriatal neurons protective in parkinsonism?
Neuronal loss in Parkinson's disease (PD) is more widespread than originally thought. Among the extrastriatal sites in which significant loss of neurons has been reported is the centremedian-parafascicular (CM-PF) complex of the thalamus, which provides one of the three major afferent sources to the striatum. The functional significance of CM-PF loss in PD is unclear. Interestingly, several recent small trials have suggested that deep brain stimulation of the CM-PF improves motor function in PD. We discuss the possible transsynaptic determination of CM-PF loss secondary to nigrostriatal dopamine degeneration, and suggest that expression of the glycoprotein cerebellin1 (Cbln1) in CM-PF neurons may play an important role in striatal synaptic remodeling in parkinsonism.
Kusnoor
Sheila V
SV
Program in Neuroscience and Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.
Muly
E Chris
EC
Morgan
James I
JI
Deutch
Ariel Y
AY
D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000473:pathology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000473:pathology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000473:pathology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000473:pathology*
C484271:CBLN1 protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D004298:Dopamine