Neurophysiological and Neuroanatomical Organization of the Subcortical Motor System, with Special Reference to the Functional Organization of Peptides within the Basal Ganglia

摘要

This letter will provide research accomplished the neurophysiological and neuroanato mical organization of the subcortical motor system, with special reference to the functional organization of peptides within the basal ganglia. We have performed experiments over the past three years directed at understanding the neurophysiological and neuroanatomical principles underlying the mechanisms involved in the production of voluntary movements, especially those mechanisms engaged by the neostriatum of the brain of mammals. We have been concerned particularly with the dopaminergic system which projects to the neostriatum and the efferent system of the neostriatum which projects to the substantia nigra of the brainstem. The dopamine system connection to substantia nigra and neostriatum is well known for its involvement in the deterioration of voluntary movement as seen in victims of Parkinsons' disease and it's associated symptoms of rigidity, tremor and bradykinesia. A number of disorders of voluntary movement involve the pathology or dysfunction of the neostriatum and its associated afferent systems and efferent targets, including the substantia nigra. Our initial efforts focussed both on the GABA-utilizing efferent projections of the neostriatum which we were able to identify and characterize using antidromic stimulation and dopamine neurons of substantia nigra in the rat brain model system. (AW)