title: Subthalamic infusion of an NMDA antagonist prevents basal ganglia metabolic changes and nigral degeneration in a rodent model of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Using permanent cannulas connected to subcutaneous pumps, we infused selective glutamate antagonists into the subthalamic nucleus of rats. Pumps were implanted immediately after the intrastriatal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine and delivered micro-quantities of the Nmethyl-D-aspartate antagonist MK-801 or the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole antagonist NBQX for 4 weeks. Subthalamic infusion of MK-801, but not of NBQX, prevented the basal ganglia metabolic changes and motor abnormalities caused by nigrostriatal lesion. Animals treated with MK-801 also exhibited marked reduction of nigral cell loss. We conclude that pharmacological modulation of subthalamic activity may have both symptomatic and neuroprotective effects in Parkinson's disease.
authors: Laboratory of Functional Neurochemistry, Neurological Institute C. Mondino, Pavia, Italy. blandini@tin.it
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Blandini
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Nappi
authors: J T
authors: JT
authors: Greenamyre
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects*; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects*