Functional organization of striatum as studied with neural grafts

Abstract

The function of the striatum has proved elusive. A structure which, at the gross microscopic level, appears homogeneous is now revealed to be heterogeneous in terms of its afferent and efferent relationships with cortex, limbic system and mid brain. Cerebral cortex projects topographically to caudate/putamen. Lesions to different cortical areas result in different behavioural impairments which are mirrored by selective neuronal or neurochemical lesions to the sectors of striatum receiving input from the cortex. Foetal neurones prepared from substantia nigra or striatum grafted to a damaged area of adult striatum reverse the lesion-induced behavioural impairments. Within different sectors of striatum the neurones and their afferent and efferent connections are defined to striosomes and matrix representing a finer grain of intrastriatal organization, the functional significance of which is unclear. It remains a challenge within such complex anatomical circuitry to discover the full extent of anatomical reintegration and functional compensation that can be achieved with grafts of foetal neurones.