Birth, Life and Death of Dopaminergic Neurons in the Substantia Nigra (Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementa, 73)

This book provides a unique and timely multidisciplinary synthesis of our current knowledge of the anatomy, pharmacology, physiology and pathology of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) dopaminergic neurons. The single chapters, written by top scientists in their fields, explore the life cycle of dopaminergic neurons from their birth to death, the cause of Parkinson's disease, the second most common and disabling condition in the elderly population. Nevertheless, the intracellular cascade of events leading to dopamine cell death is still unknown and, consequently, treatment is symptomatic rather than preventive. The mechanisms by which alterations cause neuronal death, new therapeutic approaches and the latest evidence of a possible de novo neurogenesis in the SNc are reviewed and singled out in different chapters. This book bridges basic science and clinical practice and will prepare the reader for the next few years, which will surely be eventful in terms of the progress of dopamine research. Front Matter....Pages i-xi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Ontogeny of Substantia Nigra Dopamine Neurons....Pages 3-18 Front Matter....Pages 20-20 Phenotype, Compartmental Organization and Differential Vulnerability of Nigral Dopaminergic Neurons....Pages 21-37 Specific Vulnerability of Substantia Nigra Compacta Neurons....Pages 39-47 The Nigrostriatal Pathway: Axonal Collateralization and Compartmental Specificity....Pages 49-58 The Localization of Inhibitory Neurotransmitter Receptors on Dopaminergic Neurons of the Human Substantia Nigra....Pages 59-70 Basal Ganglia Control of Substantia Nigra Dopaminergic Neurons....Pages 71-90 Substantia Nigra Control of Basal Ganglia Nuclei....Pages 91-101 Electrophysiological Characteristics of Dopamine Neurons: A 35-Year Update....Pages 103-119 Chaotic Versus Stochastic Dynamics: A Critical Look at the Evidence for Nonlinear Sequence Dependent Structure in Dopamine Neurons....Pages 121-128 Age-Dependent Changes in Dopaminergic Neuron Firing Patterns in Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta....Pages 129-133 The Neurobiology of the Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta: from Motor to Sleep Regulation....Pages 135-145 Non‐motor Function of the Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons....Pages 147-160 The Substantia Nigra, the Basal Ganglia, Dopamine and Temporal Processing....Pages 161-171 Electrophysiological and Neurochemical Characterization of 7-Nitroindazole and Molsidomine Acute and Sub-Chronic Administration Effects in the Dopaminergic Nigrostrial System in Rats....Pages 173-182 Front Matter....Pages 184-184 Involvement of Astroglial Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 and Microglia in the Nigral 6-OHDA Parkinsonism and a Possible Role of Glucocorticoid Hormone on the Glial Mediated Local Trophism and Wound Repair....Pages 185-202 Age and Parkinson’s Disease-Related Neuronal Death in the Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta....Pages 203-213 Neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s Disease: Genetics Enlightens Physiopathology....Pages 215-221 In Vivo Microdialysis in Parkinson’s Research....Pages 223-243 Inflammatory Response in Parkinsonism....Pages 245-252 Increase of Secondary Processes of Microglial and Astroglial Cells After MPTP-Induced Degeneration in Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta of Non Human Primates....Pages 253-258 Front Matter....Pages 184-184 Distinct Effects of Intranigral L-DOPA Infusion in the MPTP Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease....Pages 259-268 Cannabinoid CB 1 Receptors are Early DownRegulated Followed by a Further UpRegulation in the Basal Ganglia of Mice with Deletion of Specific Park Genes....Pages 269-275 Front Matter....Pages 278-278 Neurogenesis in Substantia Nigra of Parkinsonian Brains?....Pages 279-285 Stem Cells and Cell Replacement Therapy for Parkinson's Disease....Pages 287-299 Gene Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease....Pages 301-309 Immunization as Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease....Pages 311-315 A Diet for Dopaminergic Neurons?....Pages 317-331 Intake of Tomato-Enriched Diet Protects from 6-Hydroxydopamine-Induced Degeneration of Rat Nigral Dopaminergic Neurons....Pages 333-341 Back Matter....Pages 343-369 Explores the life cycle of dopaminergic neurons from their birth to death, the cause of Parkinson's disease, the second most common and disabling condition in the elderly population. This work reviews the mechanisms by which alterations cause neuronal death, therapeutic approaches and the evidence of a possible de novo neurogenesis in the SNc.