Dopaminergic cells repolarization induced by calcium and Na+/K+ ATPase pumps

Abstract

The firing pattern in dopaminergic (DA) neurons influences the extracellular concentration of dopamine in projection areas. A burst produces a greater phasic increase in dopamine concentration than a tonic one [1]. Burst firing of midbrain dopamine neurons is associated with behavioral motivation and reward mechanisms. At the same time, dopamine pathway, which is one of the oldest responsible for biological survival and present even in worms and flies, is profoundly altered by cocaine. In particular, limbic system, which controls emotional responses and links them with memories, has it most cocaine-sensitive site located in nucleus accumbens. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common diseases among the aging and affects approximately 1% of the population worldwide [2]. There is no known cure for PD, and with an ageing population as the average life span increases due to a general improvement in health care, understanding the cause and progression of the neurodegenerative process is as challenging as it is necessary. In PD, neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta progressively degenerate and when about 50% of them are lost the amount of dopamine available for neurotransmission in the corpus striatum is lowered by 80% the external signs of the disease are apparent. PD is not simply due to dopamine deficit, but is rather a multisystem disorder. For example, norepinephrine may play a key role in compensating for DA neurons lose in the early stages of the disease [3]. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of tonic and burst firing in DA neurons may lead to a better understanding and possible solutions for a series of neurodegenerative diseases.