[The mesencephalic dopaminergic system. Implications for neuroleptic treatment]

Thirty years ago, dopamine was identified as an essential neurotransmittor. Since then, it has been the most written about CNS molecule. Considerable evidence implicates disturbances of brain dopamine function in the pathophysiology of several psychiatric and neurologic disorders, especially schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. In the last decade, there have been important advances in the understanding of the diversity of CNS dopamine neurons and the chemical basis of this diversity, which relies upon molecular physiology of D1 and D2 receptors. Heterogeneity is remarkable at different levels, anatomical, biochemical, morphological or functional; besides, region specific interactions with other neurotransmittors and sometimes colocalisation of dopamine with cholecystokinin and/or neurotensin suggest the integration of dopamine neurons in functional subunits.