Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: Using the terms harmaline and harmine on PubMed, we searched for papers describing the effects of these β- carbolines on mammalian tissue, animals, or humans. RESULTS: Investigations over four decades have shown that harmaline induces rhythmic burst-firing activity in the medial and dorsal accessory inferior olivary nuclei that is transmitted via climbing fibers to Purkinje cells and to the deep cerebellar nuclei, then to brainstem and spinal cord motoneurons. The critical structures required for tremor expression are the inferior olive, climbing fibers, and the deep cerebellar nuclei; Purkinje cells are not required. Enhanced synaptic norepinephrine or blockade of ionic glutamate receptors suppresses tremor, whereas enhanced synaptic serotonin exacerbates tremor. Benzodiazepines and muscimol suppress tremor. Alcohol suppresses harmaline tremor but exacerbates harmaline-associated neural damage. Recent investigations on the mechanism of harmaline tremor have focused on the T-type calcium channel. DISCUSSION:
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Authors | Adrian Handforth |
Journal | Tremor and other hyperkinetic movements (New York, N.Y.)
(Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y))
Vol. 2
( 2012)
ISSN: 2160-8288 [Print] England |
PMID | 23440018
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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