Dopamine-mediated plasticity preserves excitatory connections to direct pathway striatal projection neurons and motor function in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

ABSTRACT: The cardinal symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) such as bradykinesia and akinesia are debilitating, and treatment options remain inadequate. The loss of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons in PD produces motor symptoms by shifting the balance of striatal output from the direct (go) to indirect (no-go) pathway in large part through changes in the excitatory connections and intrinsic excitabilities of the striatal projection neurons (SPNs). Here, we report using two different experimental models that a transient increase in striatal dopamine and enhanced D1 receptor activation, during 6-OHDA dopamine depletion, prevent the loss of mature spines and dendritic arbors on direct pathway projection neurons (dSPNs) and normal motor behavior for up to 5 months. The primary motor cortex and midline tha

SUBMITTER: Brague JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11160626 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature