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Updated: May 12, 2026
09:54
Comprehensive Profiling of Dopamine Regulation in Substantia Nigra and Ventral Tegmental Area
Published on: August 10, 2012
Multiple controls exerted by 5-HT2C receptors upon basal ganglia function: from physiology to pathophysiology
P De Deurwaerdère1, M Lagière, M Bosc
1Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux Cedex, France, deurwaer@u-bordeaux2.fr.
Experimental Brain Research
|April 26, 2013
Summary
Serotonin2C (5-HT2C) receptors in the basal ganglia influence motor control and cognition. Their enhanced function in dopamine-impaired conditions suggests therapeutic potential for neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Serotonin2C (5-HT2C) receptors are present in the basal ganglia, crucial for motor behavior, mood, and cognition.
- These receptors mediate serotonin's effects and are implicated in basal ganglia diseases, especially those with impaired dopaminergic transmission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the function of 5-HT2C receptors in the basal ganglia.
- To explore their role in various neuropsychiatric conditions and their therapeutic potential.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on 5-HT2C receptor expression and function in the basal ganglia.
- Analysis of receptor involvement in dopaminergic transmission alterations and related diseases.
Main Results:
- 5-HT2C receptors interact with diverse neuronal types (dopaminergic, GABAergic, glutamatergic, cholinergic) in the basal ganglia.
- Their activity can be phasic, tonic, or constitutive, primarily in input structures and limbic/associative territories.
- Receptor function is often enhanced in conditions with chronic dopamine deficiency, such as Parkinson's disease and addiction.
Conclusions:
- 5-HT2C receptors exert continuous control over basal ganglia functions through multiple mechanisms.
- Targeting 5-HT2C receptors may offer novel therapeutic strategies for schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, and substance abuse disorders.
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