NIH R01 · 2024
Developmental underpinnings of substantia nigra vulnerability
Abstract: DA neuron degeneration, resulting in deficient DA signaling, underpins the debilitating motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Among DA neurons, those located in ventral tier of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), are particularly vulnerable, compared to those in the dorsal tier of the SNc or ventral tegmental area (VTA). A mechanistic explanation of selective DA neuron vulnerability remains an important goal, that has been hampered in part by a lack of understanding of the intrinsic differences between DA neurons. We hypothesize that even within a single neuroanatomical cluster like the SNc, there exist DA subtypes with distinct developmental histories and intrinsic…
From the public funding record at NIH RePORTER. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.