Parkinson's disease is characterized by progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The surviving nigral dopaminergic neurons display altered spontaneous firing activity in Parkinson's disease. The firing rate of nigral dopaminergic neurons decreases long before complete neuronal death and the appearance of parkinsonian symptoms. A mild stimulation could rescue dopaminergic neurons from death and in turn play neuroprotective effects. Several neuropeptides, including cholecystokinin (CCK), ghrelin, neurotensin, orexin, tachykinins and apelin, within the substantia nigra pars compacta play important roles in the modulation of spontaneous firing activity of dopaminergic neurons and therefore involve motor control and motor disorders. Here, we review neuropeptide-induced modulation of the firing properties of nigral dopaminergic neurons. This review may provide a background to guide further investigations into the involvement of neuropeptides in movement control by modulating firing activity of nigral dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease.

帕金森病的特征在于黑质致密部中多巴胺能神经元的进行性退化。幸存的黑质多巴胺能神经元在帕金森病中表现出改变的自发放电活动。在神经元完全死亡和帕金森病症状出现之前很久，黑质多巴胺能神经元的放电率就会降低。温和的刺激可以挽救死亡的多巴胺能神经元，进而发挥神经保护作用。几种神经肽，包括胆囊收缩素(CCK)、生长素释放肽、神经降压素、食欲素、速激肽和 apelin，在黑质致密部内，在调节多巴胺能神经元的自发放电活动中起重要作用，因此涉及运动控制和运动障碍。在这里，我们回顾了神经肽诱导的黑质多巴胺能神经元放电特性的调制。这篇综述可能提供背景知识，以指导进一步研究神经肽通过调节帕金森病中黑质多巴胺能神经元的放电活动参与运动控制。