Basal Ganglia Flashcards
What is the function of the basal ganglia?
Important in voluntary movements, adjusting posture
What makes up the striatum?
Which are motor and which are cognitive?
Putamen -motor
Caudate - cognitive
What makes up the lentiform nucleus?
Putamen - motor
Globus pallidus
What is another name for the substantia innominata?
Substantia nigra
What are the two parts of the substantia nigra?
Pars reticulata
Pars compacta
For the basal ganglia, which pathway is excitatory and which pathway is inhibitory?
And what receptors do they have?
Direct = D1 receptor = excitatory
Indirect = D2 receptor = inhibitory
If dopamine acts thru D1, what is the effect?
Excitatory pathway is stimulated
If dopamine acts thru D2, what is the effect?
Inhibitory pathway is inhibited
How does the direct/excitatory pathway of basal ganglia work?
SNc input —> striatum, releases GABA
GABA —> inhibits GPi
GPi cant inhibit thalamus
=increased motion
How does the indirect/inhibitory pathway work?
SNc —> striatum, releases GABA
GABA—> inhibits GPe —> activates Sub-thalamic nucleus (STN)
STN —> stimulates GPi —> GABA released and goes to thalamus
=inhibits thalamus, decreased motion
What is the blood supply for the basal nuclei?
primary from MCA - lenticulostriate As.
Also ACA and Anterior choroidal
What is the classic triad associated with Parkinson’s disease?
Tremor- pill rolling
Cogwheel Rigidity
Bradykinesia
What are symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?
Classic triad
Hypokinesia Postural instability Dementia Visuoperceptive impairments Can affect walking (sloooow walking) Speech affected and facial expressions
What is the underlying cause of Parkinson’s?
No dopamine via Pars Compacta** of substantia nigra
No dopamine = striatum not stimulated = no GABA released to act on Pars reticulata and GPi = thalamus still inhibited
What are some cause so f Parkinsonian Syndyrome?
Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease Encephalitis lethargically Head trauma • Dementia pugilistica MPTP • Designer drug CO and Manganese poisoning Drug induced • Neuroleptic (dopamine blocking drugs) Wilson Diseae • Heptolenticular degeneration Rigidity • + other deficits in multiple neurodegenerative diseases
What are some treatments for Parkinson’s?
Drugs that increase dopamine or prevent its breakdown
Deep brain stimulation
What defect does Huntington’s Chorea result from?
Degeneration of neurons in striatum (mostly the putamen) that leads to decreased GABA
When does Parkinson’s disease start?
Late in life (~60/70 y.o)
What is the average onset of Huntington’s CHorea?
Progressive disease beginning at 45 y.o.