Chronic spinal cord electrical stimulation protects against 6-hydroxydopamine lesions.
Although L-dopa continues to be the gold standard for treating motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), it presents long-term complications. Deep brain stimulation is effective, but only a small percentage of idiopathic PD patients are eligible. Based on results in animal models and a handful of patients, dorsal column stimulation (DCS) has been proposed as a potential therapy for PD. To date, the long-term effects of DCS in animal models have not been quantified. Here, we report that DCS applied twice a week in rats treated with bilateral 6-OHDA striatal infusions led to a significant improvement in symptoms. DCS-treated rats exhibited a higher density of dopaminergic innervation in the striatum and higher neuronal cell count in the substantia nigra pars compacta compared to a control group. These results suggest that DCS has a chronic therapeutical and neuroprotective effect, increasing its potential as a new clinical option for treating PD patients.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27780.
Amol P
AP
Yadav
Edmond and Lily Safra Institute of Neuroscience of Natal, Natal, Brazil, 59066-060.
Romulo
R
Fuentes
Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710.
Hao
H
Zhang
Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710.
Thais
T
Vinholo
Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710.
Chi-Han
CH
Wang
Edmond and Lily Safra Institute of Neuroscience of Natal, Natal, Brazil, 59066-060.
Marco Aurelio M
MA
Freire
1] Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27780 [2] Edmond and Lily Safra Institute of Neuroscience of Natal, Natal, Brazil, 59066-060 [3] Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710 [4] Duke Center for Neuroengineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710 [5] Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708.
Miguel A L
MA
Nicolelis
D018663:Adrenergic Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D062187:Spinal Cord Stimulation / Q000379:methods
D018663:Adrenergic Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D016627:Oxidopamine