title: Riluzole reduces hyperactivity of subthalamic neurons induced by unilateral 6-OHDA lesion in the rat brain.
abstract: An abnormal increase in the activity of neurons of the subthalamic nucleus is a key pathophysiological feature of Parkinson's disease. We sought to determine whether riluzole, a sodium channel inhibitor that interferes with glutamatergic neurotransmission, affects neuronal activity in this brain region. Intravenous administration of riluzole reduced the discharge rate of subthalamic neurons in rats with 6-OHDA-induced lesions of the midbrain. By contrast, no effect was observed in nonlesioned control animals. This property may contribute to the neuroprotective effects of riluzole in animal models of PD through the modulation of the glutamatergic inputs these neurons feedback to nigral dopaminergic neurons.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Pharmacologie, Faculté de Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Université René Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: O K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Hassani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mouroux
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Bohme
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stutzmann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Féger
mesh_terms: D018663:Adrenergic Agents; D000818:Animals; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007839:Functional Laterality; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016627:Oxidopamine; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000139:chemically induced; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019782:Riluzole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D018663:Adrenergic Agents; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D019782:Riluzole; D016627:Oxidopamine