title: Pedunculopontine nucleus electric stimulation alleviates akinesia independently of dopaminergic mechanisms.
abstract: The symptom of Parkinson's disease that is most disabling and difficult to treat is akinesia. We have previously shown that low-frequency stimulation of the pedunculopontine nucleus can alleviate such akinesia in a macaque rendered Parkinsonian using 1-methyl 4-phenyl 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine. Here, we have extended that study to show that adding stimulation of the pedunculopontine nucleus to levodopa treatment in this Parkinsonian monkey increased its motor activity significantly more than levodopa alone. This additivity suggests that pedunculopontine nucleus stimulation may improve movement by acting at a site downstream from where levodopa therapy affects the basal ganglia.
authors.affiliation: University Laboratory of Physiology, Oxford University, Oxford, UK. ned.jenkinson@physiol.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ned
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jenkinson
authors.forename: Dipankar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nandi
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oram
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Tipu Z
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Aziz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020267:MPTP Poisoning / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D045042:Pedunculopontine Tegmental Nucleus / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa; D004298:Dopamine