Samuel Burke

This paper challenges the assumption of selective vulnerability in Parkinson's disease by analyzing post-mortem data and finding substantial neuronal loss beyond dopaminergic and pigmented populations.

This study shows that loss of neurexins in dopamine neurons disrupts inhibitory synapse formation and reduces neuronal survival in culture.

This study shows that phasic dopamine release in mice is not essential for basic motor behaviors, as motor functions remain intact despite near-complete loss of activity-dependent dopamine release.

This study shows that amphetamine exposure in adolescence causes sex-specific changes in dopamine axon growth via Netrin-1/DCC signaling, with male mice showing increased vulnerability.

This study shows dopaminergic neurons form a unique axonal arbor with mostly non-synaptic terminals, expressing exocytosis proteins and being active, and highlights the role of specific proteins in synapse formation.