Presynaptic control of corticostriatal inputs : role of GABA

.......................................................................................................... 7 Declaration ...................................................................................................... 8 Copyright statement ........................................................................................ 9 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................... 10 Chapter One: Introduction ............................................................................ 11 1.1 Basal ganglia organization and function ................................................. 12 1.2 Striatum ................................................................................................. 14 1.3 Output nuclei ......................................................................................... 17 1.4 Other basal ganglia nuclei ...................................................................... 18 1.4.1 External globus pallidus.................................................................. 18 1.4.2 Substantia nigra pars compacta ..................................................... 19 1.4.3 Subthalamic nucleus ...................................................................... 21 1.5 Corticostriatal transmission .................................................................... 22 1.5.1 Corticostriatal projections and axon terminals ................................. 22 1.5.2 AMPA and NMDA receptors ........................................................... 23 1.5.3 Neurotransmitter release ................................................................ 23 1.5.4 Modulation of neurotransmitter release by GPCRs ......................... 24 1.5.5 Long term potentiation .................................................................... 25 1.5.6 Short term potentiation ................................................................... 26 1.6 Thalamostriatal transmission.................................................................. 27 1.7 GABA receptors ..................................................................................... 27 1.8 Action selection ..................................................................................... 29 1.9 Striatal neurons ..................................................................................... 31 1.9.1 Principal neurons: the medium spiny neuron .................................. 31 1.9.2 Cholinergic interneuron .................................................................. 35 1.9.3 Fast spiking interneuron ................................................................. 38 1.9.4 Low threshold spiking interneuron .................................................. 41 1.9.5 Neurogliaform interneuron .............................................................. 43 1.9.6 Tyrosine hydroxylase-positive interneuron ...................................... 44 1.9.7 Calretinin-positive interneuron ........................................................ 47 1.10 Aims .................................................................................................... 47 Chapter Two: Materials and methods ........................................................... 50