Pars compacta

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Pars compacta
Details
Part of substantia nigra
Identifiers
Latin pars compacta substantiae nigrae
Acronym(s)SNpc
MeSH D065842
NeuroLex ID birnlex_990
TA98 A14.1.06.112
TA2 5882
FMA 62907
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The pars compacta (SNpc) is one of two subdivisions of the substantia nigra of the midbrain (the other being the pars reticulata); it is situated medial to the pars reticulata. It is formed by dopaminergic neurons. [1] It projects to the striatum and portions of the cerebral cortex. [2] It is functionally involved in fine motor control.

Contents

Parkinson's disease is characterized by the death of dopaminergic neurons in this region. [1]

Anatomy

In humans, the nerve cell bodies of the pars compacta are coloured black by the pigment neuromelanin. The degree of pigmentation increases with age. This pigmentation is visible as a distinctive black stripe in brain sections and is the origin of the name given to this volume of the brain. [3]

Microanatomy

The neurons have particularly long and thick dendrites. The ventral dendrites, particularly, go down deeply in the pars reticulata. Other similar neurons are more sparsely distributed in the midbrain and constitute "groups" with no well-defined borders, although continuous to the pars compacta, in a pre-rubral position. These have been given, in early works in rats (with not much respect for the anatomical subdivisions), the name of "area A8" and "A10". The pars compacta itself ("A9") is usually subdivided into a ventral and a dorsal tier, the last being calbindin positive. [3] The ventral tier is considered as A9v. The dorsal tier A9d is linked to an ensemble comprising also A8 and A10, [4] A8, A9d and A10 representing 28% of dopaminergic neurons. The neurons of the pars compacta receive inhibiting signals from the collateral axons from the neurons of the pars reticulata. [5]

Efferents

The dopaminergic neurons of the pars compacta project many of their axons along the nigrostriatal pathway to the dorsal striatum, where they release the neurotransmitter dopamine. There is an organization in which dopaminergic neurons of the fringes (the lowest) go to the sensorimotor striatum and the highest to the associative striatum. Dopaminergic axons also project to other elements of the basal ganglia, including the lateral and medial pallidum, [6] substantia nigra pars reticulata, and the subthalamic nucleus. [7]

Function

The function of the dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) is complex. Contrary to what was initially believed, SNc neurons do not directly stimulate movement: instead, it plays an indirect role by regulating the more direct role of the striatum, contributing to fine motor control, as has been confirmed in animal models with SNc lesions. [8] Thus, electrical stimulation of the substantia nigra does not result in movement, but lack of pars compacta neurons has a large influence on movement, as evidenced by the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Pathology

Degeneration of pigmented neurons in this region is the principal pathology that underlies Parkinson's disease and this depigmentation can be visualized in vivo with Neuromelanin MRI. [9] In a few people, the cause of Parkinson's disease is genetic, but in most cases, the reason for the death of these dopamine neurons is unknown (idiopathic). Parkinsonism can also be produced by viral infections such as encephalitis or a number of toxins, such as MPTP, an industrial toxin which can be mistakenly produced during synthesis of the meperidine analog MPPP. Many such toxins appear to work by producing reactive oxygen species. Binding to neuromelanin by means of charge transfer complexes may concentrate radical-generating toxins in the substantia nigra.

Pathological changes to the dopaminergic neurons of the pars compacta are also thought to be involved in schizophrenia (see the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia) and psychomotor retardation sometimes seen in clinical depression.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Putamen</span> Round structure at the base of the forebrain

The putamen is a round structure located at the base of the forebrain (telencephalon). The putamen and caudate nucleus together form the dorsal striatum. It is also one of the structures that compose the basal nuclei. Through various pathways, the putamen is connected to the substantia nigra, the globus pallidus, the claustrum, and the thalamus, in addition to many regions of the cerebral cortex. A primary function of the putamen is to regulate movements at various stages and influence various types of learning. It employs GABA, acetylcholine, and enkephalin to perform its functions. The putamen also plays a role in degenerative neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Striatum</span> Nucleus in the basal ganglia of the brain

The striatum or corpus striatum is a nucleus in the subcortical basal ganglia of the forebrain. The striatum is a critical component of the motor and reward systems; receives glutamatergic and dopaminergic inputs from different sources; and serves as the primary input to the rest of the basal ganglia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Substantia nigra</span> Structure in the basal ganglia of the brain

The substantia nigra (SN) is a basal ganglia structure located in the midbrain that plays an important role in reward and movement. Substantia nigra is Latin for "black substance", reflecting the fact that parts of the substantia nigra appear darker than neighboring areas due to high levels of neuromelanin in dopaminergic neurons. Parkinson's disease is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basal ganglia</span> Group of subcortical nuclei involved in the motor and reward systems

The basal ganglia (BG) or basal nuclei are a group of subcortical nuclei found in the brains of vertebrates. In humans and other primates, differences exist, primarily in the division of the globus pallidus into external and internal regions, and in the division of the striatum. Positioned at the base of the forebrain and the top of the midbrain, they have strong connections with the cerebral cortex, thalamus, brainstem and other brain areas. The basal ganglia are associated with a variety of functions, including regulating voluntary motor movements, procedural learning, habit formation, conditional learning, eye movements, cognition, and emotion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MPTP</span> Chemical compound

MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) is an organic compound. It is classified as a tetrahydropyridine. It is of interest as a precursor to the neurotoxin MPP+, which causes permanent symptoms of Parkinson's disease by destroying dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the brain. It has been used to study disease models in various animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dopaminergic pathways</span> Projection neurons in the brain that synthesize and release dopamine

Dopaminergic pathways in the human brain are involved in both physiological and behavioral processes including movement, cognition, executive functions, reward, motivation, and neuroendocrine control. Each pathway is a set of projection neurons, consisting of individual dopaminergic neurons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigrostriatal pathway</span> Bilateral pathway in the brain

The nigrostriatal pathway is a bilateral dopaminergic pathway in the brain that connects the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) in the midbrain with the dorsal striatum in the forebrain. It is one of the four major dopamine pathways in the brain, and is critical in the production of movement as part of a system called the basal ganglia motor loop. Dopaminergic neurons of this pathway release dopamine from axon terminals that synapse onto GABAergic medium spiny neurons (MSNs), also known as spiny projection neurons (SPNs), located in the striatum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ventral tegmental area</span> Group of neurons on the floor of the midbrain

The ventral tegmental area (VTA), also known as the ventral tegmental area of Tsai, or simply ventral tegmentum, is a group of neurons located close to the midline on the floor of the midbrain. The VTA is the origin of the dopaminergic cell bodies of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system and other dopamine pathways; it is widely implicated in the drug and natural reward circuitry of the brain. The VTA plays an important role in a number of processes, including reward cognition and orgasm, among others, as well as several psychiatric disorders. Neurons in the VTA project to numerous areas of the brain, ranging from the prefrontal cortex to the caudal brainstem and several regions in between.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subthalamic nucleus</span> Small lens-shaped nucleus in the brain

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a small lens-shaped nucleus in the brain where it is, from a functional point of view, part of the basal ganglia system. In terms of anatomy, it is the major part of the subthalamus. As suggested by its name, the subthalamic nucleus is located ventral to the thalamus. It is also dorsal to the substantia nigra and medial to the internal capsule. It was first described by Jules Bernard Luys in 1865, and the term corpus Luysi or Luys' body is still sometimes used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neuromelanin</span> Dark pigment found in the brain

Neuromelanin (NM) is a dark pigment found in the brain which is structurally related to melanin. It is a polymer of 5,6-dihydroxyindole monomers. Neuromelanin is found in large quantities in catecholaminergic cells of the substantia nigra pars compacta and locus coeruleus, giving a dark color to the structures.

The pars reticulata (SNpr) is a portion of the substantia nigra and is located lateral to the pars compacta. Most of the neurons that project out of the pars reticulata are inhibitory GABAergic neurons.

The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) or pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus is a collection of neurons located in the upper pons in the brainstem. It lies caudal to the substantia nigra and adjacent to the superior cerebellar peduncle. It has two divisions of subnuclei; the pars compacta containing mainly cholinergic neurons, and the pars dissipata containing mainly glutamatergic neurons and some non-cholinergic neurons. The pedunculopontine nucleus is one of the main components of the reticular activating system. It was first described in 1909 by Louis Jacobsohn-Lask, a German neuroanatomist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Primate basal ganglia</span>

The basal ganglia form a major brain system in all species of vertebrates, but in primates there are special features that justify a separate consideration. As in other vertebrates, the primate basal ganglia can be divided into striatal, pallidal, nigral, and subthalamic components. In primates, however, there are two pallidal subdivisions called the external globus pallidus (GPe) and internal globus pallidus (GPi). Also in primates, the dorsal striatum is divided by a large tract called the internal capsule into two masses named the caudate nucleus and the putamen—in most other species no such division exists, and only the striatum as a whole is recognized. Beyond this, there is a complex circuitry of connections between the striatum and cortex that is specific to primates. This complexity reflects the difference in functioning of different cortical areas in the primate brain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medium spiny neuron</span> Type of GABAergic neuron in the striatum

Medium spiny neurons (MSNs), also known as spiny projection neurons (SPNs), are a special type of GABAergic inhibitory cell representing 95% of neurons within the human striatum, a basal ganglia structure. Medium spiny neurons have two primary phenotypes : D1-type MSNs of the direct pathway and D2-type MSNs of the indirect pathway. Most striatal MSNs contain only D1-type or D2-type dopamine receptors, but a subpopulation of MSNs exhibit both phenotypes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">External globus pallidus</span> Part of the globus pallidus

The external globus pallidus combines with the internal globus pallidus (GPi) to form the globus pallidus, an anatomical subset of the basal ganglia. Globus pallidus means "pale globe" in Latin, indicating its appearance. The external globus pallidus is the segment of the globus pallidus that is relatively further (lateral) from the midline of the brain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Internal globus pallidus</span>

The internal globus pallidus and the external globus pallidus (GPe) make up the globus pallidus. The GPi is one of the output nuclei of the basal ganglia. The GABAergic neurons of the GPi send their axons to the ventral anterior nucleus (VA) and the ventral lateral nucleus (VL) in the dorsal thalamus, to the centromedian complex, and to the pedunculopontine complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxidopamine</span> Chemical compound

Oxidopamine, also known as 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenethylamine, is a neurotoxic synthetic organic compound used by researchers to selectively destroy dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurons in the brain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basal ganglia disease</span> Group of physical problems resulting from basal ganglia dysfunction

Basal ganglia disease is a group of physical problems that occur when the group of nuclei in the brain known as the basal ganglia fail to properly suppress unwanted movements or to properly prime upper motor neuron circuits to initiate motor function. Research indicates that increased output of the basal ganglia inhibits thalamocortical projection neurons. Proper activation or deactivation of these neurons is an integral component for proper movement. If something causes too much basal ganglia output, then the ventral anterior (VA) and ventral lateral (VL) thalamocortical projection neurons become too inhibited, and one cannot initiate voluntary movement. These disorders are known as hypokinetic disorders. However, a disorder leading to abnormally low output of the basal ganglia leads to reduced inhibition, and thus excitation, of the thalamocortical projection neurons which synapse onto the cortex. This situation leads to an inability to suppress unwanted movements. These disorders are known as hyperkinetic disorders.

Dopaminergic cell groups, DA cell groups, or dopaminergic nuclei are collections of neurons in the central nervous system that synthesize the neurotransmitter dopamine. In the 1960s, dopaminergic neurons or dopamine neurons were first identified and named by Annica Dahlström and Kjell Fuxe, who used histochemical fluorescence. The subsequent discovery of genes encoding enzymes that synthesize dopamine, and transporters that incorporate dopamine into synaptic vesicles or reclaim it after synaptic release, enabled scientists to identify dopaminergic neurons by labeling gene or protein expression that is specific to these neurons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical loop</span> System of neural circuits in the brain

The cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical loop is a system of neural circuits in the brain. The loop involves connections between the cortex, the basal ganglia, the thalamus, and back to the cortex. It is of particular relevance to hyperkinetic and hypokinetic movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease, as well as to mental disorders of control, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), and Tourette syndrome.

References

  1. 1 2 Kim, S. J.; Sung, JY; Um, JW; Hattori, N; Mizuno, Y; Tanaka, K; Paik, SR; Kim, J; Chung, KC (2003). "Parkin Cleaves Intracellular -Synuclein Inclusions via the Activation of Calpain". Journal of Biological Chemistry. 278 (43): 41890–9. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M306017200 . PMID   12917442.
  2. ↑ Martin, John D. (2020). Neuroanatomy: Text and Atlas (5th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill. p. 309. ISBN   978-1-259-64248-7.
  3. 1 2 Francois, C.; Yelnik, J.; Tande, D.; Agid, Y. & Hirsch, E.C. (1999). "Dopaminergic cell group A8 in the monkey: anatomical organization and projections to the striatum". Journal of Comparative Neurology. 414 (3): 334–347. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1096-9861(19991122)414:3<334::AID-CNE4>3.0.CO;2-X. PMID   10516600. S2CID   24287378.
  4. ↑ Feigenbaum Langer, L.; Jimenez-Castellanos, J. & Graybiel, A.M. (1991). The substantia nigra and its relations with the striatum in the monkey. Progress in Brain Research. Vol. 87. pp. 81–99. doi:10.1016/S0079-6123(08)63048-4. ISBN   9780444811813. PMID   1678193.
  5. ↑ Hajos, M. & Greenfield, S.A. (1994). "Synaptic connections between pars compacta and pars reticulata neurones: electrophysiological evidence for functional modules within the substantia nigra". Brain Research. 660 (2): 216–224. doi:10.1016/0006-8993(94)91292-0. PMID   7820690. S2CID   45314308.
  6. ↑ Lavoie, B., Smith, Y., Parent, A. (1989). "Dopaminergic innervation of the basal ganglia in the squirrel monkey as revealed by tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry". The Journal of Comparative Neurology. 289 (1): 36–52. doi:10.1002/cne.902890104. PMID   2572613. S2CID   36431241.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ Cragg S.J.; Baufreton J.; Xue Y.; Bolam J.P. & Bevan M.D. (2004). "Synaptic release of dopamine in the subthalamic nucleus". European Journal of Neuroscience. 20 (7): 1788–1802. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2004.03629.x . PMID   15380000. S2CID   14698708.
  8. ↑ Pioli, E.Y.; Meissner, W.; Sohr, R.; Gross, C.E.; Bezard, E.; Bioulac, B.H. (2008). "Differential behavioral effects of partial bilateral lesions of ventral tegmental area or substantia nigra pars compacta in rats". Neuroscience. 153 (4): 1213–24. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.01.084. PMID   18455318. S2CID   11239586.
  9. ↑ Sasaki M, Shibata E, Tohyama K, Takahashi J, Otsuka K, Tsuchiya K, Takahashi S, Ehara S, Terayama Y, Sakai A (July 2006). "Neuromelanin magnetic resonance imaging of locus ceruleus and substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease". NeuroReport. 17 (11): 1215–8. doi:10.1097/01.wnr.0000227984.84927.a7. PMID   16837857.
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