title: Effects of unilateral stereotactic posterior striatotomy on harmaline-induced tremor in rats.
abstract: Although long known and the most prevalent movement disorder, pathophysiology of essential tremor (ET) remains controversial. The most accepted hypothesis is that it is caused by a dysfunction of the olivocerebellar system. Vilela Filho et al. [2001; Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 77:149-150], however, reported a patient with unilateral hand ET that was completely relieved after a stroke restricted to the contralateral posterior putamen and suggested that ET could be the clinical manifestation of posterior putamen hyperactivity. The present study was designed to evaluate this hypothesis in the most often used model of ET, harmaline-induced tremor in rats. Fifty-four male Wistar rats were randomly distributed into three groups: experimental (EG), surgical control (SCG), and pharmacological control (PCG) groups. EG animals underwent stereotactic unilateral posterior striatotomy. SCG rats underwent sham lesion at the same target. PCG served exclusively as controls for harmaline effects. All animals received, postoperatively, intraperitoneal harmaline, and the induced tremor was video-recorded for later evaluation by a blind observer. Thirteen animals were excluded from the study. Limb tremor was reduced ipsilaterally to the operation in 20 of 21 rats of EG and in two of nine of SCG, being asymmetric in one of 10 of PCG rats. Comparisons between EG × SCG and EG × PCG were statistically significant, but not between SCG × PCG. Limb tremor reduction was greater in anterior than in posterior paws. Lateral lesions yielded better results than medial lesions. These results suggest that the posterior striatum is involved with harmaline-induced tremor in rats and support the hypothesis presented.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Medical School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil; Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Neurosciences, Medical School, Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil; Goiânia Neurological Institute, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
authors.forename: Osvaldo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vilela-Filho
authors.forename: Fernando P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Ferraz
authors.forename: Breno A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: Luciana O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Suzana F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Anunciação
authors.forename: Joaquim T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Delson J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Mauricio B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Ingrid B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Atayde
authors.forename: Paulo C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ragazzo
authors.forename: Paula G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.forename: Mariana A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nobrega
authors.forename: Maisa R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.forename: Mayra R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Victor H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Ala
authors.forename: Stefano T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Queiroz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000633:toxicity; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020329:Essential Tremor / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006246:Harmaline / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D006246:Harmaline
keywords: electrolytic lesion; essential tremor; harmaline; striatum; tremor