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Specific Vulnerability of Substantia Nigra Compacta Neurons

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Birth, Life and Death of Dopaminergic Neurons in the Substantia Nigra

Part of the book series: Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementa ((NEURALTRANS,volume 73))

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Abstract

The specific loss of substantia nigra compacta (SNc) neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD) has been the main driving force in initiating research efforts to unravel the apparent SNc-specific vulnerability. Initially, metabolic constraints due to high dopamine turnover have been the main focus in the attempts to solve this issue. Recently, it has become clear that fundamental differences in the molecular signature are adding to the neuronal vulnerability and provide specific molecular dependencies. Here, the different processes that define the molecular background of SNc vulnerability are summarized.

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Abbreviations

CRE:

Cyclization recombinase

DAT:

Dopamine transporter

DOPAC:

3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid

DOPAL:

3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde

En1/2:

Engrailed

GDNF:

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor

MAO-A:

Monoamine oxidase A

mdDA:

Mesodiencephalic dopaminergic

PD:

Parkinson’s disease

RA:

Retinoic acid

Retinol:

Vitamin A

RR:

Retrorubral

SNc:

Substantia nigra compacta

Tgf-β:

Transforming growth factor β

VTA:

Ventral tegmental area

Wv:

Weaver

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Marten P. Smidt

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  1. Marten P. Smidt
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Correspondence to Marten P. Smidt .

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  1. Fac. Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Palermo, Corso Tukory 129, Palermo, 90134, Italy

    Giuseppe Giovanni

  2. Mario Negri, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche, Via Nazionale 8, Santa Maria Imbaro, 66030, Italy

    Vincenzo Di Matteo

  3. Mario Negri, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche, Via Nazionale 8, Santa Maria Imbaro, 66030, Italy

    Ennio Esposito

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Smidt, M.P. (2009). Specific Vulnerability of Substantia Nigra Compacta Neurons. In: Giovanni, G., Di Matteo, V., Esposito, E. (eds) Birth, Life and Death of Dopaminergic Neurons in the Substantia Nigra. Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementa, vol 73. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-92660-4_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-92660-4_3

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