Neurophysiology of Parkinson's disease: from basic research to clinical correlates

The aim of the present review is to discuss recent acquisitions on the neur ophysiological effects of the DA denervation of the striatum, obtained in v itro from single neurone electrophysiological recordings. Nigrostriatal DA system degeneration does not significantly alter the intrinsic properties o f striatal cells, but triggers adaptive responses in the striatum, involvin g glutamatergic neurotransmission. By pairing intracellular recordings from 6-OHDA-denervated striatal projection neurones and the synaptic stimulatio n of glutamatergic corticostriatal pathway, in vitro experiments contribute d to elucidate the intimate alterations that follow striatal DA deafferenta tion. This experimental approach also allowed to better understand the poss ible cellular bases of both beneficial and side effects of the pharmacologi cal compounds commonly employed in the treatment of PD. (C) 1999 Elsevier S cience Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.