Dysfunctional dopamine (DA) signaling has been associated with a broad spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders, prompting investigations into how midbrain DA neuron heterogeneity may underpin this variety of behavioral symptoms. Emerging literature indeed points to functional heterogeneity even within anatomically defined DA clusters. Recognizing the need for a systematic classification scheme, several groups have used single-cell profiling to catalog DA neurons based on their gene expression profiles. We aim here not only to synthesize points of congruence but also to highlight key differences between the molecular classification schemes derived from these studies. In doing so, we hope to provide a common framework that will facilitate investigations into the functions of DA neuron subtypes in the healthy and diseased brain.

中文翻译：

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使用单细胞基因表达谱方法对中脑多巴胺神经元进行分类

功能失调的多巴胺 (DA) 信号传导与广泛的神经精神疾病有关，促使人们研究中脑 DA 神经元异质性如何支持这种各种行为症状。新兴文献确实指出即使在解剖学定义的 DA 簇内也存在功能异质性。认识到系统分类方案的必要性，几个小组已经使用单细胞分析根据其基因表达谱对 DA 神经元进行分类。我们的目标不仅是综合一致点，而且还要强调从这些研究中得出的分子分类方案之间的关键差异。在此过程中，我们希望提供一个通用框架，以促进对健康和患病大脑中 DA 神经元亚型功能的研究。