Influence of cholinergic circuitries in generation of high-frequency somatosensory evoked potentials.
OBJECTIVE
High-frequency oscillations (HFOs) evoked by upper limb stimulation reflect highly synchronised spikes generated in the somatosensory human system. Since acetylcholine produces differential modulation in subgroups of neurons, we would determine whether cholinergic drive influences HFOs.


METHODS
We recorded somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) from 31 scalp electrodes in 7 healthy volunteers, before and after single administration of rivastigmine, an inhibitor of central acetylcholinesterase. Right median nerve SEPs have been analysed after digital narrow bandpass filtering (500-700 Hz). Raw data were further submitted to Brain Electrical Source analysis (BESA) to evaluate the respective contribution of lemniscal, thalamic and cortical sources. Lastly, we analysed by Fast Fourier transform spectral changes after drug administration in the 10-30 ms latency range.


RESULTS
Rivastigmine administration caused a significant increase of HFOs in the 18-28 ms latency range. Wavelets occurring before the onset latency of the conventional N20 SEP did not show any significant change. A similar increase concerned the strength of cortical dipolar sources in our BESA model. Lastly, we found a significant power increase of the frequency peak at about 600 Hz in P3-F3 traces after drug intake.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings demonstrate that the cortical component of HFOs is significantly enhanced by cholinergic activation. Pyramidal chattering cells, which are capable to discharge high-frequency bursts, are mainly modulated by cholinergic inputs; by contrast, acetylcholine does not modify the firing rate of fast-spiking GABAergic interneurons. We thus discuss the hypothesis that cortical HFOs are mainly generated by specialised pyramidal cells.
Restuccia
D
D
Department of Neurology, Catholic University, Policlinico A. Gemelli, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy. drestuccia@rm.unicatt.it
Della Marca
G
G
Valeriani
M
M
Rubino
M
M
Paciello
N
N
Vollono
C
C
Capuano
A
A
Tonali
P
P
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002219:Carbamates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009434:Neural Pathways; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D011930:Reaction Time; D000068836:Rivastigmine; D012535:Scalp; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D002219:Carbamates; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D000109:Acetylcholine; D000068836:Rivastigmine