CASE 7 - Parkinson’s Disease Flashcards
list the main components of the basal ganglia
- striatum = caudate nucleus + putamen
- globus pallidus (external and internal)
- substantia nigra (pars compata and pars reticularis)
- nucleus accumbens
- subthalamic nucleus
what makes up the input section of the basal ganglia?
caudate nucleus and putamen (neostriatum)
what makes up the output part of the basal ganglia?
GPi and SNr
what is the putamen separated from the GPe by?
the lateral medullary lamina
what are GPi and GPe separated by?
medial medullary lamina
what makes up the lentiform nucleus?
putamen + globus pallidus
what is the thin bundle of grey matter lateral to the external capsule?
claustrum
what and where is the extreme capsule?
- more lateral to the claustrum
- white matter tracts separating the claustrum from the neocortical insula
the substantia nigra has a dark appearance due to what?
the presence of neuromelanin in the SNc
what is inferior to the thalamus and right above the substantia nigra?
subthalamic nucleus (STN)
what does the internal capsule separate?
the putamen and caudate nucleus
what is the dorsal striatum primarily involved in?
control over conscious motor movements and executive functions
dorsal striatum vs central striatum
dorsal = caudate nucleus + putamen
central = nucleus accumbens + olfactory tubercle
what is the central striatum responsible for?
limbic functions of reward and aversion
dorsolateral vs ventromedial basal ganglia
dorsolateral = motor
ventromedial = limbic
what are the classical cardinal symptoms of PD?
bradykinesia, resting tremor, postural instability, shuffling gait
what is PD a result of?
neurodegeneration of the SNc dopaminergic neurons
what is the nigrostriatal pathway?
a bilateral dopaminergic pathway in the brain that connects the SNc in the midbrain with the dorsal striatum in the forebrain
why is movement in PD not smooth, coordinated or controlled?
- relative overactivity of indirect pathway and suppression of direct pathway
- excessive inhibitory output to thalamus
- thalamus inhibition causes suppression of thalamocortical-cortico-spinal pathway
- hence movement not smooth, coordinated or controlled
upon initiation of voluntary movements, frontal lobes send an ______ signal via ______ to the _______
excitatory signal via glutamate to the striatum
in the direct pathway, the neurones in the striatum send an inhibitory signal where?
GPi and SNr
summarise the direct pathway
how is dopamine involved in the direct pathway?
- neurons in the SNc secrete dopamine onto specific cells in the striatum and activates the excitatory D1 receptors
- overall effect is that dopamine activates the striatum, which inhibits the GPi
- the GPi is then unable to inhibit the thalamus so therefore the thalamus can stimulate the cortex
in the indirect pathway, what does the striatum do?
sends an inhibitory signal via GABA to GPe
what does the GPe normally do?
inhibit the STN
summarise the indirect pathway
how is dopamine involved in the indirect pathway?
- DA is secreted by the SNc and binds to D2 receptors in the striatum
- D2 receptors are inhibitory
- striatal neurones therefore decrease their inhibitory message to the GPe
- GPe can therefore carry out its normal job and suppress the excitatory actions of the STN on GPi (GPe inhibits its internal counterpart)
- less excitation to GPi = less inhibition of thalamus = more excitation of cortex = increased movement
how does dopamine cause increased movement?
by activating the direct pathway and and inhibiting the indirect pathway
describe dopamine structure
catecholamine — catechol moiety (benzene ring + 2 OH side groups) + amine side chain
what are catecholamine derived from?
tyrosine amino acid
how is dopamine made?
tyrosine —> L-DOPA —> Dopamine
- tyrosine hydroxylase
- L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (LAADC)
where is dopamine synthesised?
cytoplasm of presynaptic terminals
what happens to DA after it is synthesised?
loaded into synaptic vesicles by vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT)
what 2 major enzymes are involved in the breakdown of DA?
monoamine oxidase (MOA) and catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT)
for eye movements, the ________ topically suppresses the ________. this inhibiton prevents distracting visual input from triggering unwanted saccadic eye movements. when a saccade is desired, the ______ inhibits a region of the ________. this removes the brakes from a region of the __________, releasing the selected saccade.
for eye movements, the substantia nigra topically suppresses the superior colliculus. this inhibiton prevents distracting visual input from triggering unwanted saccadic eye movements. when a saccade is desired, the striatum inhibits a region of the substantia nigra. this removes the brakes from a region of the superior colliculus, releasing the selected saccade.
what neuropeptides are used in the 2 pathways?
direct = substance P dynorphin
indirect = enkephalin
blood supply of the cerebellum?
superior cerebellar, anterior inferior and posterior inferior cerebellar arteries
what is the posterior inferior cerebellar artery a branch of?
vertebral artery
where is the cerebellum?
- occupies most of posterior fossa
- largest part of hindbrain
- attached to dorsal aspect of brainstem by cerebellar peduncles (superior to midbrain, middle to pons, inferior to medulla)
what does the cerebellum do?
controls maintenance of balance, influences posture and muscle tone, and coordinates movement
- coordinates balance and movement
- concerned with which muslces need to be activated to achieve a particular movement, timing, force
- integrates info from the cerebral cortex (via pons) and peripheral sense organs
- sends output to brainstem nuclei and cerebral cortex
the cerebellum sends output to the brainstem nuclei and cerebral cortex via what?
thalamus
input connections to cerebellum?
- spinocerebellar tracts
- vestibular nuclei
- cerebral cortex (via pontine nuclei)
where does output come from in the cerebellum?
deep cerebellar nuclei
where does output from the cerebellum go?
to brainstem (reticular, vestibular, red nuclei) and thalamus
which nuclei are the functional divisions of the cerebellum associated with?
archicerebellum — associated with fastigial nuclei
paleocerebellum — associated with globose and emboliform nuclei
neocerebellum — associated with dentate nuclei
which part of the cerebellum receives input from vestibular nuclei in the brainstem and is primarily concerned with regulation of movements underlying posture and equilibrium, and vestibulo-ocular reflexes?
archicerebellum
what is the only part of the cerebellum to receive input directly from the spinal cord?
paleocerebellum
which part of the cerebellum projects to the red nucleus?
paleocerebellum
what is the paleocerebellum concerned with?
muscle tone and posture
the superior cerebelalr peduncle decussates in the ______ at the level of what?
decussates in the midbrain at the level of the inferior colliculi
where does the neocerebellum project?
ventral lateral nucleus of thalamus