Organization of central nervous system dopaminergic pathways.

In the present paper the organization of central nervous system dopaminergic pathways is concisely reviewed. Six dopaminergic systems are described: the midbrain efferent system, the tubero-infundibular, the diencephalo-spinal, the incerto-hypothalamic, the periventricular, and the retinal systems. Anatomo-functional correlations can be presently outlined for most dopamine-containing networks, and anatomo-clinical studies indicate that they are globally affected in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease.