Monopolar versus bipolar high frequency stimulation in the rat subthalamic nucleus: differences in histological damage.
The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of monopolar and bipolar high frequency stimulation (HFS) on histological damage and current flow using a commonly applied stimulus amplitude (300 microA). Bipolar HFS resulted in a large amount of histological damage whereas with monopolar HFS no damage was observed except for the electrode trajectory. Oscilloscopic readings confirmed that this was due to the application of twice as much current to the target with bipolar HFS. Our results demonstrate that there are differences in tissue damage dependent of polarity. In order to create a better comparison to the clinical condition, we suggest that the present rodent models for studying the effect of chronic HFS require further adjustment. This can be achieved by decreasing the present current densities to a level comparable to the human situation.
Department of Neuroscience, European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. yasintemel@yahoo.com
Yasin
Y
Temel
Veerle
V
Visser-Vandewalle
Martin
M
van der Wolf
Geert H
GH
Spincemaille
Lieve
L
Desbonnet
Govert
G
Hoogland
Harry W M
HW
Steinbusch
D000818:Animals; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004566:Electrodes; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*