Neuron
Volume 74, Issue 6, 21 June 2012, Pages 1075-1086
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Article
Dichotomous Organization of the External Globus Pallidus

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2012.04.027Get rights and content
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Summary

Different striatal projection neurons are the origin of a dual organization essential for basal ganglia function. We have defined an analogous division of labor in the external globus pallidus (GPe) of Parkinsonian rats, showing that the distinct temporal activities of two populations of GPe neuron in vivo are underpinned by distinct molecular profiles and axonal connectivities. A first population of prototypic GABAergic GPe neurons fire antiphase to subthalamic nucleus (STN) neurons, often express parvalbumin, and target downstream basal ganglia nuclei, including STN. In contrast, a second population (arkypallidal neurons) fire in-phase with STN neurons, express preproenkephalin, and only innervate the striatum. This novel cell type provides the largest extrinsic GABAergic innervation of striatum, targeting both projection neurons and interneurons. We conclude that GPe exhibits several core components of a dichotomous organization as fundamental as that in striatum. Thus, two populations of GPe neuron together orchestrate activities across all basal ganglia nuclei in a cell-type-specific manner.

Highlights

► Identified key elements of fundamentally-important dichotomous organization of GPe ► First correlation of GPe neuron firing in vivo with neurochemistry and structure ► Discovered arkypallidal neurons that massively and specifically innervate striatum ► Defined new factors for widespread and excessive beta oscillations in Parkinson's disease

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