The endogenous opioid system in neurological disorders of the basal ganglia |
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Authors: | R Sandyk |
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Affiliation: | Departments of Internal Medicine (Neurology) and Pharmacology and Toxicology University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85724, USA |
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Abstract: | The endogenous opioid peptides have for some time been implicated in the regulation of motor behavior in animals. Recently, however, there is increased evidence to suggest a role for these peptides in the control of human motor functions as well as in the pathophysiology of abnormal movement disorders. Degeneration of opioid peptide-containing neurons in the basal ganglia has been demonstrated in Parkinson's disease and Huntington's chorea, but the clinical significance of these findings is largely unknown. On the other hand, there is evidence that excessive opioid activity may be important in the pathophysiology of some movement disorders such as tardive dyskinesia, progressive supra-nuclear palsy, and a subgroup of Tourette's patients. These findings indicate that diseases of the basal ganglia are possibly associated with alterations in opioid peptide activity, and that these alterations may be useful in designing experimental therapeutic strategies in these conditions. |
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Keywords: | Reprint requests should be addressed to: R. Sandyk M.D. MSc. Visiting Research Professor of Neurology and Pharmacology Department of Internal Medicine (Neurology) University of Arizona Health Sciences Center Tucson AZ 85724 USA |
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