A Clue to Neuron Vulnerability

Disrupted Neurotransmitter Function, Dopamine , Biological Features, Clinical & Biological Features
Research News

Published today in the Journal of Neuroscience, Dr. Carlos Paladini and colleagues get to the bottom of burst firing activity in dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra. Together with recent articles by Drs. Mark Bevan (Blythe, et al. 2009), Edwin Levitan (Putzier, et al. 2009)  and James Surmeier (Guzman, et al. 2009), these papers move us one step closer to understanding the properties underlying dopaminergic neuron function.

Read comments from Dr. John T. Williams of the Vollum Institute comparing these three studies and the mechanisms underlying firing modes of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.

 

Responses:
The interaction of calcium and NMDA conductances and the activity of dopamine neurons
John Williams, OHSU
15 Dec 2009 06:41 PM EST
Three recent papers published in the Journal of Neuroscience address the mechanisms that underlie the activity of dopamine neurons in the Substantia Nigra.  The interest in this work stems from ... 
Calcium, pacemaking and neuronal vulnerability
James Surmeier, Northwestern
19 Dec 2009 06:41 AM EST
Dr. Williams has written an informative and insightful assessment of some of the recent work bearing on calcium and the selective vulnerability of substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) dopaminergic ... 
Response to Dr. Surmeier
Edwin Levitan, PITT
4 Jan 2010 11:27 AM EST
We were pleased that Dr. Williams noted the significance of Putzier et al. (2009), which showed that Cav1.3 channels support nigral dopamine neuron pacemaker activity and amplify bursts by virtue of ... 
Responses: 1
Dihydropyridines, pacemaking and Parkinson's disease
James Surmeier, Northwestern
6 Jan 2010 05:28 PM EST
The posting by Dr. Levitan does not substantively address any of the core concerns expressed in our recent commentary about the Putzier et al. paper. Again, the fundamental issue is whether high ...