Glutamatergic Neurons in the Caudal Zona Incerta Regulate Parkinsonian Motor Symptoms in Mice.

ABSTRACT: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common and fastest-growing neurodegenerative disorder. In recent years, it has been recognized that neurotransmitters other than dopamine and neuronal systems outside the basal ganglia are also related to PD pathogenesis. However, little is known about whether and how the caudal zona incerta (ZIc) regulates parkinsonian motor symptoms. Here, we showed that specific glutamatergic but not GABAergic ZIc^VgluT2 neurons regulated these symptoms. ZIc^VgluT2 neuronal activation induced time-locked parkinsonian motor symptoms. In mouse models of PD, the ZIc^VgluT2 neurons were hyperactive and inhibition of their activity ameliorated the motor deficits. ZIc^VgluT2 neurons monosynaptically projected to the substantia

SUBMITTER: Li LX 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8782991 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature