Given the dramatic changes affecting astrocytic morphology in striatum of experimental parkinsonism and human PD, we investigated at electron microscopy level the evolution of the relationship between the astrocytic processes and the asymmetric synapses representing the corticostriatal and thalamostriatal glutamatergic input, using immunohistochemical methods (immunogold or peroxidase) with antibodies against the glutamate transporter GLT1 as astrocytic plasma membrane marker. This evidence concerns the gene SLC1A2 and Parkinsonism.