Dystonia and dopamine: From phenomenology to pathophysiology

Publication date: Available online 9 August 2019Source: Progress in NeurobiologyAuthor(s): Bastien Ribot, Jérome Aupy, Marie Vidailhet, Joachim Mazère, Antonio Pisani, Erwan Bezard, Dominique Guehl, Pierre BurbaudAbstractA line of evidence suggests that the pathophysiology of dystonia involves the striatum, whose activity is modulated among other neurotransmitters, by the dopaminergic system. However, the link between dystonia and dopamine appears complex and remains unclear. Here, we propose a physiological approach to investigate the clinical and experimental data supporting a role of the dopaminergic system in the pathophysiology of dystonic syndromes. Because dystonia is a disorder of motor routines, we first focus on the role of dopamine and striatum in procedural learning. Second, we consider the phenomenology of dystonia from every angle in order to search for features giving food for thought regarding the pathophysiology of the disorder. Then, for each dystonic phenotype, we review, when available, the experimental and imaging data supporting a connection with the dopaminergic system. Finally, we propose a putative model in which the different phenotypes could be explained by changes in the balance between the direct and indirect striato-pallidal pathways, a process critically controlled by the level of dopamine within the striatum.

Source: Progress in Neurobiology - August 10, 2019 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research