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Emmi A, Campagnolo M, Stocco E, Carecchio M, Macchi V, Antonini A, De Caro R, Porzionato A. Neurotransmitter and receptor systems in the subthalamic nucleus. Brain Struct Funct 2023; 228:1595-1617. [PMID: 37479801 PMCID: PMC10471682 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02678-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
The Subthalamic Nucleus (STh) is a lens-shaped subcortical structure located ventrally to the thalamus, that despite being embryologically derived from the diencephalon, is functionally implicated in the basal ganglia circuits. Because of this strict structural and functional relationship with the circuits of the basal ganglia, the STh is a current target for deep brain stimulation, a neurosurgical procedure employed to alleviate symptoms in movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and dystonia. However, despite the great relevance of this structure for both basal ganglia physiology and pathology, the neurochemical and molecular anatomy of the STh remains largely unknown. Few studies have specifically addressed the detection of neurotransmitter systems and their receptors within the structure, and even fewer have investigated their topographical distribution. Here, we have reviewed the scientific literature on neurotransmitters relevant in the STh function of rodents, non-human primates and humans including glutamate, GABA, dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline with particular focus on their subcellular, cellular and topographical distribution. Inter-species differences were highlighted to provide a framework for further research priorities, particularly in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aron Emmi
- Institute of Human Anatomy, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
- Parkinson and Movement Disorders Unit, Centre for Rare Neurological Diseases, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CESNE), University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Marta Campagnolo
- Parkinson and Movement Disorders Unit, Centre for Rare Neurological Diseases, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CESNE), University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Stocco
- Institute of Human Anatomy, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Miryam Carecchio
- Parkinson and Movement Disorders Unit, Centre for Rare Neurological Diseases, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CESNE), University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Veronica Macchi
- Institute of Human Anatomy, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CESNE), University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Angelo Antonini
- Parkinson and Movement Disorders Unit, Centre for Rare Neurological Diseases, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CESNE), University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Raffaele De Caro
- Institute of Human Anatomy, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CESNE), University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
| | - Andrea Porzionato
- Institute of Human Anatomy, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CESNE), University of Padova, Padua, Italy
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Emmi A, Antonini A, Macchi V, Porzionato A, De Caro R. Anatomy and Connectivity of the Subthalamic Nucleus in Humans and Non-human Primates. Front Neuroanat 2020; 14:13. [PMID: 32390807 PMCID: PMC7189217 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2020.00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The Subthalamic Nucleus (STh) is an oval-shaped diencephalic structure located ventrally to the thalamus, playing a fundamental role in the circuitry of the basal ganglia. In addition to being involved in the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease, the STh is one of the target nuclei for deep brain stimulation. However, most of the anatomical evidence available derives from non-human primate studies. In this review, we will present the topographical and morphological organization of the nucleus and its connections to structurally and functionally related regions of the basal ganglia circuitry. We will also highlight the importance of additional research in humans focused on validating STh connectivity, cytoarchitectural organization, and its functional subdivision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aron Emmi
- Institute of Human Anatomy, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Angelo Antonini
- Parkinson and Movement Disorders Unit, Neurology Clinic, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Veronica Macchi
- Institute of Human Anatomy, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Andrea Porzionato
- Institute of Human Anatomy, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Raffaele De Caro
- Institute of Human Anatomy, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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Gill A, Birdsey-Benson A, Jones BL, Henderson LP, Madden DR. Correlating AMPA receptor activation and cleft closure across subunits: crystal structures of the GluR4 ligand-binding domain in complex with full and partial agonists. Biochemistry 2009; 47:13831-41. [PMID: 19102704 DOI: 10.1021/bi8013196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AMPA receptors are glutamate-gated ion channels that are essential mediators of synaptic signals in the central nervous system. They form tetramers that are assembled as combinations of subunits GluR1-4, each of which contains a ligand-binding domain (LBD). Crystal structures of the GluR2 LBD have revealed an agonist-binding cleft, which is located between two lobes and which acts like a Venus flytrap. In general, agonist efficacy is correlated with the extent of cleft closure. However, recent observations show that cleft closure is not the sole determinant of the relative efficacy for glutamate receptors. In addition, these studies have focused on the GluR2 subunit, which is the specific target of a physiologically important RNA-editing modification in vivo. We therefore sought to test the generality of the cleft closure-efficacy correlation for other AMPA-R subunits. Here, we present crystal structures of the GluR4(flip) LBD in complex with both full and partial agonists. As for GluR2, both agonists stabilize a closed-cleft conformation, and the partial agonist induces a smaller cleft closure than the full agonist. However, a detailed analysis of LBD-kainate interactions reveals the importance of subtle backbone conformational changes in the ligand-binding pocket in determining the magnitude of agonist-associated conformational changes. Furthermore, the GluR4 subunit exhibits a different correlation between receptor activation and LBD cleft closure than does GluR2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avinash Gill
- Departments of Biochemistry and Physiology, Dartmouth Medical School, 7200 Vail Building, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA
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Urbain N, Vautrelle N, Dahan L, Savasta M, Chouvet G. Glutamatergic-receptors blockade does not regularize the slow wave sleep bursty pattern of subthalamic neurons. Eur J Neurosci 2004; 20:392-402. [PMID: 15233749 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2004.03488.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The subthalamic nucleus (STN) has been implicated in movement disorders observed in Parkinson's disease because of its pathological mixed burst firing mode and hyperactivity. In physiological conditions, STN bursty pattern has been shown to be dependent on slow wave cortical activity. Indeed, cortical ablation abolished STN bursting activity in urethane-anaesthetized intact or dopamine depleted rats. Thus, glutamate afferents might be involved in STN bursting activity during slow wave sleep (SWS) when thalamic and cortical cells oscillate in a low-frequency range. The present work was aimed to test, on non-anaesthetized rats, if it was possible to regularize the SWS STN bursty pattern by microiontophoresis of kynurenate, a broad-spectrum glutamate ionotropic receptors antagonist. As glutamatergic effects might be masked by GABAergic inputs arriving tonically and during the entire sleep-wake cycle on STN neurons, kynurenate was also co-iontophoresed with bicuculline, a GABA(A) receptors antagonist. Kynurenate iontophoretic applications had a weak inhibitory effect on the discharge rate of STN neurons whatever the vigilance state, and did not regularize the SWS STN bursty pattern. But, the robust bursty bicuculline-induced pattern was impaired by kynurenate, which elicited the emergence of single spikes between remaining bursts. These data indicate that the bursty pattern exhibited by STN neurons specifically in SWS, does not seem to exclusively depend on glutamatergic inputs to STN cells. Furthermore, GABA(A) receptors may play a critical role in regulating the influence of excitatory inputs on STN cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Urbain
- Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit, McGill University, 1033 avenue des Pins Ouest, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1A1, Canada.
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Lobo MK, Itri JN, Cepeda C, Chavira CA, Levine MS. Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor Expression and Dopaminergic Modulation in the Developing Subthalamic Nucleus of the Rat: An Immunohistochemical and Electrophysiological Analysis. Dev Neurosci 2004; 25:384-93. [PMID: 14966379 DOI: 10.1159/000075664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2003] [Accepted: 09/09/2003] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Using standard immunohistochemical procedures, we investigated the changes in the expression of ionotropic glutamate receptor (GluR) subunits, GluRl, GluR5/6/7, and NMDAR1, in the subthalamic nucleus of developing rats. The general sequence of development for each subunit was the same. At early postnatal ages, there was dense neuropil staining and cellular clustering which progressed to decreased neuropil staining and an even distribution of conspicuous cells in the later postnatal ages and in the adult. GluR5/6/7 displayed the earliest maturation, while GluR1 exhibited the slowest maturation. These morphological changes suggest a different time course for the functionality of GluR subtypes in the developing subthalamic nucleus. Correlative electrophysiological studies demonstrated functional GluRs as early as 16 days of age. All neurons tested displayed robust responses to kainate and N-methyl-D-aspartate, and these responses were modulated by dopamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- M K Lobo
- Mental Retardation Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Calif. 90095, USA
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Narita K, Murata T, Honda K, Nishihara M, Takahashi M, Higuchi T. Subthalamic locomotor region is involved in running activity originating in the rat ventromedial hypothalamus. Behav Brain Res 2002; 134:275-81. [PMID: 12191814 DOI: 10.1016/s0166-4328(02)00041-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We have previously shown the involvement of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) in inducing running behavior. Stimulation of kainate (KA)-type glutamate receptors in the unilateral VMH of the rat exclusively elicited stereotyped running behavior. However, the neural pathways or functional connections of the VMH neurons involved in the running activity are yet to be elucidated further. In this study we examined whether the subthalamic locomotor region (SLR) is involved in the expression of the running activity originating in the VMH. The multiunit activity (MUA) in the ipsilateral SLR was significantly increased by KA injection into the VMH of urethane-anesthetized animals. Concomitant injection of 6,7-dinitroquioxalline-2,3-dione (DNQX, a KA-type glutamate receptor antagonist) with KA blocked this change in the MUA. Unilateral pre-injection of either kynurenate (non-selective glutamate receptor antagonist), D-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (AP5, an NMDA-type glutamate receptor antagonist) or DNQX into the SLR blocked the expression of the running activity induced by KA injection into the ipsilateral VMH. Results from the present study suggest that communication between KA-sensitive efferents from the VMH to glutamatergic pathways acting via NMDA and non-NMDA receptors in the SLR may underlie expression of running behavior originating in the VMH.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Narita
- Department of Physiology, Fukui Medical University, Fukui 910-1193, Japan.
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