The cortico-basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuit with synaptic plasticity. II. Mechanism of synergistic modulation of thalamic activity via the direct and indirect pathways through the basal ganglia

Abstract

A possible mechanism underlying the modulatory role of dopamine, adenosine and acetylcholine in the modification of corticostriatal synapses, subsequent changes in signal transduction through the ‘direct’ and ‘indirect’ pathways in the basal ganglia and variations in thalamic and neocortical cell activity is proposed. According to this mechanism, simultaneous activation of dopamine D 1/D 2 receptors as well as inactivation of adenosine A 1/A 2A receptors or muscarinic M 4/M 1 receptors on striatonigral/striatopallidal inhibitory cells can promote the induction of long-term potentiation/depression in the efficacy of excitatory cortical inputs to these cells. Subsequently augmented inhibition of the activity of inhibitory neurons of the output nuclei of the basal ganglia through the ‘direct’ pathway together with reduced disinhibition of these nuclei through the ‘indirect’ pathway synergistically increase thalamic and neocortical cell firing. The proposed mechanism can underlie such well known effects as ‘excitatory’ and ‘inhibitory’ influence of dopamine on striatonigral and striatopallidal cells, respectively; the opposite action of dopamine and adenosine on these cells; antiparkinsonic effects of dopamine receptor agonists and adenosine or acetylcholine muscarinic receptor antagonists.