Corticostriatal network dysfunction in Huntington's disease: Deficits in neural processing, glutamate transport, and ascorbate release
Abstract
This review summarizes evidence for dysfunctional connectivity between cortical and striatal neurons in Huntington's disease (HD), a fatal neurodegenerative condition caused by a single gene mutation. The focus is on data derived from recording of electrophysiological signals in behaving transgenic mouse models. Firing patterns of individual neurons and the frequency oscillations of local field potentials indicate a disruption in corticostriatal processing driven, in large part, by interactions between cells that contain the mutant gene rather than the mutant gene alone. Dysregulation of glutamate, an excitatory amino acid released by cortical afferents, plays a key role in the breakdown of corticostriatal communication, a process modulated by ascorbate, an antioxidant vitamin found in high concentration in striatum. Up-regulation of glutamate transport by drug administration or viral-vector delivery improves ascorbate homeostasis and neurobehavioral processing in HD mice. Further analysis of electrophysiological data, including the use of sophisticated computational strategies, is required to discern how behavioral demands modulate the flow of corticostriatal information and its disruption by HD. Long before massive cell loss ...Continue Reading
References
Citations
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Cell-Type-Specific Viral Vectors (ASM)
Viral vectors are used in biological research and therapy to deliver genetic material into cells. However, the efficiency of viral vectors varies depending on the cell type. Here is the latest research on cell-type-specific viral vectors.
Cell-Type-Specific Viral Vectors
Viral vectors are used in biological research and therapy to deliver genetic material into cells. However, the efficiency of viral vectors varies depending on the cell type. Here is the latest research on cell-type-specific viral vectors.
Cell-Type Specific Viral Vectors
Viral vectors are used in biological research and therapy to deliver genetic material into cells. However, the efficiency of viral vectors varies depending on the cell type. Here is the latest research on cell-type-specific viral vectors.
Basal Ganglia
Basal Ganglia are a group of subcortical nuclei in the brain associated with control of voluntary motor movements, procedural and habit learning, emotion, and cognition. Here is the latest research.