EPIGENETIC FACTORS AND MIDBRAIN DOPAMINERGIC NEURON DEVELOPMENT

In the mammalian brain dopamine systems play a central role in the con trol of movement, hormone release, emotional balance and reward. Alter ation of dopaminergic neurotransmission is involved in Parkinson's dis ease and other movement disorders, as well as in some psychotic syndro mes. This review summarises recent findings, which shed some light on signals and cellular interactions involved in the specification and ma turation of the dopaminergic function during neurogenesis. In particul ar we will focus on three major issues: (1) the differentiation of dop aminergic neurones triggered by direct contact with the midbrain floor plate cells through the action of sonic hedgehog; (2) the neurotrophi c factors acting on dopaminergic neurones; and (3) the role of target striatal cells on the survival and the axonal growth of developing or grafted dopaminergic neurones.