Corticostriatal Pathways: From Evolution to Human Pathology
摘要
In this chapter, we review the structure and function of corticostriatal pathways, recalling first of all their ontogeny and phylogeny, in order to point out possible animal models to carry out various translational approaches. The purpose is to point out parallels and divergences between the different species, with the idea of legitimizing or ruling out possible animal models, with particular emphasis on those proposed by our team. In this context, we describe here the conformation of the brain and the corticostriatal pathways in amniotes (reptiles, birds, and mammals), which have been considered absent in anamniotes (fish and amphibians). Particular emphasis is given to glutamatergic transmission. Finally, a review of the main nosological entities in which these brain structures are involved is made. Among the entities studied by neurology, disorders of the corticostriatal pathways are mentioned, including here Parkinson’s syndrome and disease, Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, Huntington’s Chorea, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). In psychiatric pathology, dysfunction of the same pathways has been reported in a group of disorders, such as attention deficit disorder (ADHD), autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and schizophrenia. Its importance in the normal and the pathological has been extensively described.