Schmidt W J, Bubser M, Hauber W
Neuropharmacology Division, University of Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
J Neural Transm Suppl. 1992;38:65-89.
In Parkinson's disease the dopaminergic inhibition--mediated by DA2 receptors in the striatum--is reduced. Therefore glutamatergic excitation predominates in the antero-dorsal striatum. In turn the glutamatergic neurons of the subthalamic nucleus become disinhibited. Antagonists of the NMDA-subtype of glutamate receptors injected locally into the glutamatergically innervated nuclei or competitive and non-competitive NMDA-antagonists administered systemically, counteract parkinsonian symptoms in animals.
