Background pattern of a brain with neural connections

Team Awatramani

Redefining PD pathophysiology mechanisms in the context of heterogeneous substantia nigra neuron subtypes

2021-Present

The widely held view is that degeneration of substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) dopamine (DA) neurons causes striatal DA deficits that underlie the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, our studies have uncovered putative pro-locomotor and anti-locomotor DA neuron subtypes in the SNc, and the pro-locomotor subtype exhibits selective vulnerability in PD. Thus, we hypothesize that Parkinsonian motor dysfunction results from an imbalance in pro-and anti-locomotor DAergic signaling. Our multidisciplinary team of researchers will investigate this under-appreciated heterogeneity of SNc DA neurons, and its relevance for PD, in terms of cell-autonomous and circuit-level dysfunction.

Tags
Circuit dysfunction Dopamine neuron subtypes Motor symptoms

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Contributions

Here is an overview of how this team’s article findings have contributed to the PD field as of June 2025. There are two different categorizations of these contributions – one by impact to the PD community and a second by scientific category.

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Accolades

Members of the team have been recognized for their contributions.

Open Science Champions

Maite Azcorra, Zachary Gaertner

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