Regulation of Corticostriatal Synaptic Plasticity in Physiological and Pathological Conditions

In this chapter we describe the basic characteristics of corticostriatal synaptic plasticity in both physiological and pathological conditions. In particular, we analyze the general features of the most important forms of activity-dependent plasticity of striatal glutamatergic transmission such as long-term depression (LTD), long-term potentiation (LTP), and depotentiation (reversal of previously induced LTP) in medium spiny projection neurons. We also report on the role of distinct ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors as well as the modulatory function of dopaminergic, cholinergic, and endocannabinoid systems in the expression of these forms of striatal plasticity. Moreover, we describe some forms of synaptic plasticity induced by repetitive glutamatergic stimulation in striatal interneurons. Finally, we analyze the alterations of synaptic plasticity in toxic and genetic models of the most important neurological disorders involving the striatum such as Parkinson's disease, L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia, Huntington's disease, dystonia, and brain ischemia.