Basal ganglia and functions of the autonomic nervous system

The aim of this mini-review was to describe an underrecognized but important aspect of the basal ganglia diseases, the dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system that patients suffer owing to the degenerative process affecting these structures, mainly Parkinson's disease. 2. We analyze the most prevalent autonomic abnormalities in these patients from an experimental and clinical point of view.Fil: Pazo, Jorge Horacio. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Laboratorio de Neurofisiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Belforte, Juan Emilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Laboratorio de Neurofisiología; Argentin

Electrophysiologic study of globus pallidus projections to the thalamic reticular nucleus

This study was designed to explore the electrophysiological relationships between the globus pallidus (GP), the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) and the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) in urethaneanesthetized rats. The neuronal activity of the rostral part of the TRN was recorded by microelectrodes.Single pulse electrical stimulation of the GP and SNr produced inhibition of the spontaneous activity of the majority of TRN neurons. Stimulation of the GP by microinjections of bicuculline (25 ng/300 nl) produced also inhibition of the spontaneous activity of the reticular neurons. This could lead to facilitation of the cerebral cortex, as the reticular nucleus is reciprocally connected to, and inhibits, the thalamic motor nuclei, that in turn excite the motor cortex.Fil: Pazo, Jorge Horacio. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Laboratorio de Neurofisiología; Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentina;Fil: Barcelo, Ana Cristina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Laboratorio de Neurofisiología; Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentina;Fil: Bellantonio, Emanuel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Laboratorio de Neurofisiología; Argentina;Fil: Pazo, Valeria. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Laboratorio de Neurofisiología; Argentina;Fil: Almarares, Noel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Laboratorio de Neurofisiología; Argentina

The Striatum and Pain Modulation

The aim of this review was to give a general aspect of the sensorial function of the striatum related to pain modulation, which was intensively studied in our laboratory. We analyse the effect of electrical and chemical stimulation of the striatum on the orofacial pain, especially that produced by tooth pulp stimulation of the lower incisors. We demonstrated specific sites within the nucleus which electrical or chemical stimulation produced inhibition of the nociceptive jaw opening reflex. This analgesic action of the striatum was mediated by activation of its dopamine D2 receptors and transmitted through the indirect pathways of the basal ganglia and the medullary dorsal reticular nucleus (RVM) to the sensorial nuclei of the trigeminal nerve. Its mechanism of action was by inhibition of the nociceptive response of the second order neurons of the nucleus caudalis of the V par.Fil: Barcelo, Ana Cristina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Filippini, Bárbara. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Laboratorio de Neurofisiología; ArgentinaFil: Pazo, Jorge Horacio. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Laboratorio de Neurofisiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentin

Substantia nigra pars reticulata units in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats: Responses to striatal D2 dopamine receptor stimulation and subthalamic lesions

In order to increase our understanding of Parkinson's disease pathophysiology, we studied the effects of intrastriatally administered selective dopamine receptor agonists on single units from the substantia nigra pars reticulata of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats with or without an additional subthalamic nucleus lesion. Nigral pars reticulata units of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats were classified into two types, showing regular and bursting discharge patterns, respectively ('non-burst' and 'burst' units). Non-burst and burst units showed distinct responses to intrastriatal quinpirole (the former were excited and burst units inhibited). Furthermore, subthalamic nucleus lesions significantly decreased the number of nigral units showing a spontaneous bursting pattern, and reduced the proportion of units that responded to quinpirole. In contrast, subthalamic lesions did not alter the proportion of nigral units that responded to SKF38393, although the lesions changed some response features, e.g. response type and magnitude. Burst analysis showed that quinpirole did not modify the discharge pattern of burst units, whereas SKF38393 produced a shift to regular firing in 62 of the burst units tested. In conjunction, our results support that: (i) the subthalamic nucleus has an important influence on output nuclei firing pattern; (ii) striatal D2 receptors have a strong influence on nigral firing rate, and a less relevant role in controlling firing pattern; (iii) burst and non-burst units differ in their response to selective stimulation of striatal dopamine receptors; (iv) the effects of striatal D2 receptors on nigral units are mainly, though not exclusively, mediated by the subthalamic nucleus; and (v) nigral responses to SKF38393 involve the subthalamic nucleus.Fil: Tseng, Kuei y. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Laboratorio de Neurofisiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Riquelme, Luis A.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Laboratorio de Neurofisiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Belforte, Juan Emilio. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Laboratorio de Neurofisiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Pazo, Jorge Horacio. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Laboratorio de Neurofisiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Murer, Mario Gustavo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Laboratorio de Neurofisiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Hyposialorrhea as an early manifestation of Parkinson disease

We sought to determine whether hyposialorrhea is an early manifestation of Parkinson disease (PD). We measured basal and citric acid stimulated secretion of whole saliva in 20 patients with early PD. Our findings confirm that hyposialorrhea is an early manifestation of PD We sought to determine whether hyposialorrhea is an early manifestation of Parkinson disease (PD). We measured basal and citric acid stimulated secretion of whole saliva in 20 patients with early PD. Our findings confirm that hyposialorrhea is an early manifestation of PDFil: Cersósimo, M. G.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Tumilasci, Omar Rene. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Raina, G.B.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Benarroch, E. E. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Michelini, Flavia Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Pazo, Jorge Horacio. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentin