title: High-frequency stimulation of the entopeduncular nucleus improves dystonia in dtsz hamsters.
abstract: High-frequency stimulation (HFS) of the internal pallidum (GPi) has been reported to improve generalized dystonia in patients. Currently, dystonia is thought to be associated with disturbed neuronal activity of GPi neurons. Similar findings have been observed in the dtsz hamster, a model of idiopathic paroxysmal non-kinesiogenic dystonia. For this reason, we investigated the effect of bilateral HFS of the entopeduncular nucleus (EPN, rodent homologue of GPi) on the severity of dystonia. Bilateral EPN-HFS resulted in a reversible decrease of dystonia severity up to 50% when compared to both pre- and post-HFS scores, and controls. Our results underline the pathophysiological role of the EPN in the dtsz hamster and suggest the suitability of this model to further investigate mechanisms of HFS in dystonia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Charité Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany. daniel.harnack@charite.de
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harnack
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamann
authors.forename: Wassilios
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meissner
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morgenstern
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kupsch
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020821:Dystonic Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D020392:Entopeduncular Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index