Effect of stimulation of subthalamic nucleus on grooming movements and their rhythmicity in pups and mature rats.
The effect of rhythmic stimulation of subthalamic nucleus on grooming movements and their rhythmicity was studied on mature rats and on 13- and 14-day rat pups. Unilateral monopolar stimulation of subthalamic nucleus was performed on unrestrained animals via implanted electrodes. This stimulation activated virtually all grooming movements (scratching, hair-plucking, licking, and body-shaking); the effect was most pronounced in pups. Acceleration of the rhythm of grooming movements was observed only in rat pups for hair-plucking and scratching on the contralateral side relatively to the stimulated nucleus. In mature rats stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus prolonged grooming movements in most cases, but did not increase their number and rhythm.
Lepekhina
L M
LM
I. M. Sechenov Institute of Evolution Physiology and Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia.
Voskresenskii
V O
VO
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D006120:Grooming / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D010507:Periodicity; D051381:Rats; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*