Dopaminergic Neurons in the Nigrostriatal Pathway

Dopaminergic neurons are cells that produce and release dopamine, and the nigrostriatal pathway is the neural pathway connecting the substantia nigra pars compacta to the striatum. This query presents a conceptual issue as it describes a neuronal population and neural circuit, not a discrete therapeutic target molecule or receptor suitable for drug development. While these neurons are critically involved in motor control, they are cellular structures rather than individual receptor, enzyme, or transporter molecules that can be directly targeted by drugs. The substantia nigra pars compacta is the specific brain region containing the dopaminergic neurons that form the nigrostriatal pathway. These neurons project dopaminergically to the striatum via the nigrostriatal pathway, where dopamine acts on D1 and D2 dopamine receptors expressed on striatal neurons. The pathway is clinically significant because loss of dopaminergic neurons in this region causes Parkinson's disease. Actual therapeutic targets related to this system would be specific molecular entities such as dopamine receptors, the dopamine transporter, or dopamine itself.

Other names

Nigrostriatal dopaminergic systemNigrostriatal pathway dopaminergic neurons