Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Basal Ganglia
Basal Ganglia
Basal Ganglia
PALLIDUM/ PALEOSTRIATUM –
globus pallidus (“pale”)
Definition of Terms
LENTIFORM NUCLEUS – putamen+globus
pallidus (“lentil shaped”)
VENTRAL STRIATUM–
caudate+putamen+nucleus
accumbens+olfactory tubercle
Caudate + Putamen
Caudate Nucleus
C-shaped
Head (expanded rostrum) – bulges
into the anterior horn of the lateral
ventricle
Body
Tail – roof of the inferior horn of the
lateral ventricle
Putamen
“shell”
Lateral part of lentiform nucleus
Lateral to globus pallidus; medial to
external capsule
Separated from caudate by internal
capsule
Continuous with head of caudate at
anterior limb of internal capsule
Types of Neurons
Aspiny
Spiny
Aspiny Neurons
Intrinsic (interneurons)
Large aspiny (Ach) – Huntington’s
Chorea
Small aspiny (GABA)
Spiny Neurons
Principal (projection)
Majority (90%)
GABA, taurine, substance P,
enkephalin, neurotensin, dynorphin,
CCK
Lost in Huntington’s
Dopamine Receptors
D2 – mediate antipsychotic effects of
neuroleptic drugs
-- feedback control of
dopaminergic transmission
D1 -- Parkinsons
Compartments
Patches (Striosomes)
Matrix
Striosomes Matrix
AchEsterase light heavy
Staining
Cell development early Late
input Medial frontal Cortex(sensorimo
cortex, limbic tor,
cortex, SNc, supplementary
ventral SNr motor,
association,
limbic),
intralaminar
thalamic nuclei,
ventral tegmental
area, dorsal SNr
Output SNc SNr, globus
pallidus
Striosomes Matrix
GLU GLU
THALAMUS THALAMUS
Centromedian Nucleus Parafascicular Nucleus
Neostriatal Output
Substantia nigra pars reticulata
Globus pallidus
Ventral pallidum
Substantia nigra pars compacta
GABA
Globus Pallidus & Substantia
Nigra
Globus Pallidus
Globus “ball or round mass”
Pallidus “pale”
Between putamen and internal
capsule
External pallidal lamina
Internal pallidal lamina
Substantia Nigra Pars Reticulata
“black substance”
Iron compounds
Between cerebral peduncle &
midbrain tegmentum
Ventral zone of substantia nigra
Globus Pallidus & SNr
Morphologically & chemically similar
Most neurons are large multipolar
projection neurons
GABA
GPe + SNr – head & neck
GPi – arm & leg
Pallidal & Nigral Inputs
Striatopallidal Projections
Striatonigral Projections
Pallidal & Nigral Outputs
Major
Minor
– Nucleus Tegmenti Pedunculopontis
– Habenular Nucleus
– Superior Colliculus
Side Track
Pallidothalamic Fiber Routes
Lenticular Fasciculus (H2 field of
Forel)
Ansa Lenticularis
Ansa lenticularis Lenticular Fasciculus
Ventral anterior
Ventral lateral
Dorsomedial
Intralaminar
Globus Pallidus & SNr
Neostriatum
Sensorimotor Association Limbic
GLU GLU
THALAMUS THALAMUS
Centromedian Nucleus Parafascicular Nucleus
Pallidal & Nigral Outputs
Major
Minor
– Nucleus Tegmenti Pedunculopontis
– Habenular Nucleus
– Superior Colliculus
Side Track (GPe subthalamic
nucleus)
Subthalamic Nucleus
Input:
– GPe
– Cerebral cortex (area 4 &6)
– Reticular formation
– thalamus
Output:
– GP
– SNr
Ventral (Limbic) Striatum
Components
– Nucleus accumbens septi
– Olfactory tubercle
– Ventral caudate
– Putamen
Input
– Hippocampus
– Amigdala
– Entorhinal & perirhinal cortices (area 28 & 35)
– Anterior cingulate cortex (area 24)
– Medial orbitofronal cortex
– Temporal lobe
Output
– Ventral pallidum
Corticostriato-thalamocortical
Loops
Functions of the Basal Ganglia
Motor Function
Striatum involved in orientation to stimulus &
initiation & control of movement (target
location in space, direction of limb
movement, muscle pattern)
Automatic execution of learned motor plan
With the cerebellum pattern generator &
executor
Promotes arousal of the motor system
Involves the putamen, GPi, SNr, subthalamus
(responsive to movement tasks)
Gating Function
Gating of sensorimotor processing
Cognitive Function
Spatial memory (dorsolateral
prefrontal loop)
Behavior: switches (lateral
orbitofrontal loop)
Blood Supply
Diseases Associated With the Basal
Ganglia
Hyperkinetic
Hypokinetic
Hyperkinetic
Chorea
Athetosis
Ballism
Dystonia
Tourette Syndrome
Chorea
Sudden, frequent, involuntary,
purposeless, quick jerks
Choros -- “a dance”
Caudate nucleus
Reduced level of GABA, Ach,
enkephalin, substance P, dynorphin,
CCK
Sydenham’s Huntington’s
Hyperkinetic
Hypokinetic
Parkinsonism
Tremor (rhythmic, fine, recurring at a rate of
3-6 cycles/sec, seen in posture than in
motion)
Rigidity (resistance to passive movement of
a joint through a range of motion – cogwheel
rigidity; inc tone of agonists & antagonists)
Hypokinesia/ akinesia (diminution/ loss of
associated movements, difficulty in initiating
movement, slow movement)
Thank you