A Vulnerable Subtype of Dopaminergic Neurons Drives Early Motor Deficits in Parkinson's Disease.

In Parkinson's disease, dopaminergic neurons (DANs) in the midbrain gradually degenerate, with ventral substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) DANs exhibiting greater vulnerability. However, it remains unclear whether specific molecular subtypes of ventral SNc DANs are more susceptible to degeneration in PD, and if they contribute to the early motor symptoms associated with the disease. We identified a subtype of + DANs, +, which are selectively lost earlier than other DANs, and with a time course that aligns with the development of motor symptoms in MitoPark mice. We generated a knock-in Cre mouse line for + DANs and showed differential anatomical inputs and outputs of this population. Further, we found that the inhibition of transmitter release in + neurons led to bradykinesia and tremor. This study uncovers the existence of a selectively vulnerable subtype of DANs that is sufficient to drive early motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease.