The striosomes (also referred to as ''patches'') are one of two complementary chemical compartments within the

striatum The striatum, or corpus striatum (also called the striate nucleus), is a nucleus (a cluster of neurons) in the subcortical basal ganglia of the forebrain. The striatum is a critical component of the motor and reward systems; receives glutamate ...

(the other compartment is known as the matrix) that can be visualized by staining for immunocytochemical markers such as

acetylcholinesterase Acetylcholinesterase (HGNC symbol ACHE; EC 3.1.1.7; systematic name acetylcholine acetylhydrolase), also known as AChE, AChase or acetylhydrolase, is the primary cholinesterase in the body. It is an enzyme Enzymes () are proteins that a ...

enkephalin An enkephalin is a pentapeptide involved in regulating nociception in the body. The enkephalins are termed endogenous ligands, as they are internally derived and bind to the body's opioid receptors. Discovered in 1975, two forms of enkephalin ...

substance P Substance P (SP) is an undecapeptide (a peptide composed of a chain of 11 amino acid residues) and a member of the tachykinin neuropeptide family. It is a neuropeptide, acting as a neurotransmitter and as a neuromodulator. Substance P and its clos ...

limbic system-associated membrane protein Limbic system-associated membrane protein (LAMP) 64- to 68-kDa heavily glycosylated protein found in neurons, specifically it is distributed in cortical and subcortical regions of the limbic system The limbic system, also known as the paleomamma ...

(LAMP), AMPA receptor subunit 1 (GluR1),

dopamine receptor Dopamine receptors are a class of G protein-coupled receptors that are prominent in the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS). Dopamine receptors activate different effectors through not only G-protein coupling, but also signaling through diffe ...

subunits, and

calcium binding protein Calcium-binding proteins are proteins that participate in calcium cell signalling pathways by binding to Ca2+, the calcium ion that plays an important role in many cellular processes. Calcium-binding proteins have specific domains that bind to cal ...

s. Striosomal abnormalities have been associated with

neurological disorders A neurological disorder is any disorder of the nervous system. Structural, biochemical or electrical abnormalities in the brain, spinal cord or other nerves can result in a range of symptoms. Examples of symptoms include paralysis, muscle weakness ...

, such as mood dysfunction in

Huntington's disease Huntington's disease (HD), also known as Huntington's chorea, is a neurodegenerative disease that is mostly inherited. The earliest symptoms are often subtle problems with mood or mental abilities. A general lack of coordination and an unst ...

, though their precise function remains unknown. Striosomes were discovered by

Ann Graybiel Ann Martin Graybiel (born 1942) is an Institute Professor and a faculty member in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is also an investigator at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research ...

in 1978 using acetylcholinesterase

histochemistry Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is the most common application of immunostaining. It involves the process of selectively identifying antigens (proteins) in cells of a tissue section by exploiting the principle of antibodies binding specifically to ant ...

References

External links

*{{cite web , last=Trafton , first=Anne , title=Study helps explain why motivation to learn declines with age , website=MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology , date=2020-10-27 , url=https://news.mit.edu/2020/why-learn-motivate-age-decline-1027 , access-date=2020-10-29 Article on striosomes' role in age-related decline in learning. Basal ganglia