This book provides a unique and timely multidisciplinary synthesis of our current knowledge of the anatomy, pharmacology, physiology and pathology of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) dopaminergic neurons. The single chapters, written by top scientists in their fields, explore the life cycle of dopaminergic neurons from their birth to death, the cause of Parkinson's disease, the second most common and disabling condition in the elderly population. Nevertheless, the intracellular cascade of events leading to dopamine cell death is still unknown and, consequently, treatment is symptomatic rather than preventive. The mechanisms by which alterations cause neuronal death, new therapeutic approaches and the latest evidence of a possible de novo neurogenesis in the SNc are reviewed and singled out in different chapters. This book bridges basic science and clinical practice and will prepare the reader for the next few years, which will surely be eventful in terms of the progress of dopamine research.

Inhalt
Birth of dopaminergic neurons.- Ontogeny of Substantia Nigra Dopamine Neurons.- SNc Dopaminergic neurons.- Phenotype, Compartmental Organization and Differential Vulnerability of Nigral Dopaminergic Neurons.- Specific Vulnerability of Substantia Nigra Compacta Neurons.- The Nigrostriatal Pathway: Axonal Collateralization and Compartmental Specificity.- The Localization of Inhibitory Neurotransmitter Receptors on Dopaminergic Neurons of the Human Substantia Nigra.- Basal Ganglia Control of Substantia Nigra Dopaminergic Neurons.- Substantia Nigra Control of Basal Ganglia Nuclei.- Electrophysiological Characteristics of Dopamine Neurons: A 35-Year Update.- Chaotic Versus Stochastic Dynamics: A Critical Look at the Evidence for Nonlinear Sequence Dependent Structure in Dopamine Neurons.- Age-Dependent Changes in Dopaminergic Neuron Firing Patterns in Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta.- The Neurobiology of the Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta: from Motor to Sleep Regulation.- Non?motor Function of the Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons.- The Substantia Nigra, the Basal Ganglia, Dopamine and Temporal Processing.- Electrophysiological and Neurochemical Characterization of 7-Nitroindazole and Molsidomine Acute and Sub-Chronic Administration Effects in the Dopaminergic Nigrostrial System in Rats.- Death of SNc Dopaminergic neurons.- Involvement of Astroglial Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 and Microglia in the Nigral 6-OHDA Parkinsonism and a Possible Role of Glucocorticoid Hormone on the Glial Mediated Local Trophism and Wound Repair.- Age and Parkinson's Disease-Related Neuronal Death in the Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta.- Neurodegeneration in Parkinson's Disease: Genetics Enlightens Physiopathology.- In Vivo Microdialysis in Parkinson's Research.- Inflammatory Response inParkinsonism.- Increase of Secondary Processes of Microglial and Astroglial Cells After MPTP-Induced Degeneration in Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta of Non Human Primates.- Distinct Effects of Intranigral L-DOPA Infusion in the MPTP Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease.- Cannabinoid CB1 Receptors are Early DownRegulated Followed by a Further UpRegulation in the Basal Ganglia of Mice with Deletion of Specific Park Genes.- Saving the SNc Dopaminergic neurons.- Neurogenesis in Substantia Nigra of Parkinsonian Brains?.- Stem Cells and Cell Replacement Therapy for Parkinson's Disease.- Gene Therapy for Parkinson's Disease.- Immunization as Treatment for Parkinson's Disease.- A Diet for Dopaminergic Neurons?.- Intake of Tomato-Enriched Diet Protects from 6-Hydroxydopamine-Induced Degeneration of Rat Nigral Dopaminergic Neurons.