Astrocytic Receptor Systems of the Basal Ganglia

Astrocytes are increasingly recognized as active participants of synaptic communication, yet their role in the basal ganglia circuitry remains poorly defined. Emerging evidence indicates that astrocytes in this region express a diverse array of neurotransmitter receptors thought to regulate intracellular calcium signaling, gliotransmitter release, synaptic plasticity, and neuroimmune responses. However, the literature is limited by methodological variability and a pronounced focus on the striatum, with comparatively little data on other basal ganglia nuclei. This review aims to organize the current literature on astrocytic receptor systems within the basal ganglia, including dopaminergic (D1–D5), glutamatergic (AMPA, NMDA, mGluRs), GABAergic (GABA-A, GABA-B), purinergic (P1, P2), and adrenergic (α, β) receptors. By organizing receptor-specific findings across basal ganglia structures, this review provides a foundation for future investigations into astrocytic function in this complex neural network.