title: The Striosome and Matrix Compartments of the Striatum: A Path through the Labyrinth from Neurochemistry toward Function.
abstract: The striatum is a heterogeneous structure with a diverse range of neuron types and neuromodulators. Three decades of anatomical and biochemical studies have established that the neurochemical organization of striatum is not uniformly heterogeneous, but rather, can be differentiated into neurochemically discrete compartments known as striosomes (also known as patches) and matrix. These compartments are well understood to differ in their expression of neurochemical markers, with some differences in afferent and efferent connectivity and have also been suggested to have different involvement in a range of neurological diseases. However, the functional outcomes of striosome-matrix organization are poorly understood. Now, recent findings and new experimental tools are beginning to reveal that the distinctions between striosomes and matrix have distinct consequences for striatal synapse function. Here, we review recent findings that suggest there can be distinct regulation of neural function in striosome versus matrix compartments, particularly compartment-specific neurochemical interactions. We highlight that new transgenic and viral tools are becoming available that should now accelerate the pace of advances in understanding of these long-mysterious striatal compartments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Sherrington Building, and ‡Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, University of Oxford , Oxford OX1 3PT, U.K.
authors.forename: Katherine R
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0809-7292
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Brimblecombe
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Sherrington Building, and ‡Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, University of Oxford , Oxford OX1 3PT, U.K.
authors.forename: Stephanie J
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9677-2256
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Cragg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009448:Neurochemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins
keywords: Striosome; acetylcholine; basal ganglia; cholinergic interneurons; dopamine; matrix; striatum; substance P; transgenic tools