Dopaminergic cells, which use dopamine as a neurotransmitter, are
not as numerous as other brain nerve cells such as serotonergic and
GABAergic neurons. However, dopamine neurons project to a variety
of important brain regions to control movement, emotion, the reward
system, and the secretion of prolactin. Both schizophrenia and
Parkinson’s disease are disorders of the dopaminergic neurotransmissions, but schizophrenia has excess dopamine in the mesolimbic system,
and Parkinson’s disease has decreased dopamine in the substantia nigra
striatum, with opposite effects in dopaminergic neurotransmission.
Recently, it has become clear that the brain-gut-microbiota axis is
involved in the pathogenesis of both schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease. This paper describes the similarities and differences in the
brain-gut-microbiota axis between schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease. CLICK TO REVIEW