Effect of subthalamic nucleus lesions in a 6-hydroxydopamine-induced rat parkinsonian model: behavioral and biochemical studies.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether subthalamic nucleus (STN) ablation caused by kainic acid can restore dopaminergic neurotransmission and improve motor deficits in a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced hemiparkinsonian model.


METHODS
The authors investigated behavioral changes in rats displaying parkinsonian symptoms (6-OHDA-lesioned rats) after an STN lesion was created using kainic acid. They also measured levels of dopamine and its metabolites following tissue dissection. The results of this study showed that STN ablation led to behavioral improvement in parkinsonian motor deficits. Increased levels of dopamine were also observed in the striatum and globus pallidus externus (GPE).


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that creation of an STN lesion in this hemiparkinsonian rat model may counteract some of the neurochemical changes within the striatum and GPE caused by the 6-OHDA, and influence striatal dopaminergic metabolism.
Hwang
Yong Sup
YS
Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science & Brain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Shim
Insop
I
Lee
Bom Bee
BB
Chang
Jin Woo
JW
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005917:Globus Pallidus / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007608:Kainic Acid; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016627:Oxidopamine; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D016627:Oxidopamine; D007608:Kainic Acid; D004298:Dopamine