title: The local application of a flavonoid, (-)-epicatechin, increases the spiking of globus pallidus neurons in a dose-dependent manner and diminishes the catalepsy induced by haloperidol.
abstract: Flavonoids are natural substances obtained from plants. Most flavonoids cross the blood-brain barrier and exert a wide range of effects on the central nervous system. These actions have been attributed to the modulation of GABA-A receptors. Although motor systems in the central nervous system express a high density of GABA-A receptors, physiological studies about the effects of flavonoids on motor nuclei are scarce. Among the nuclei of the basal ganglia, the globus pallidus is potentially important for the processing of information related to movement. The electrical activity of globus pallidus neurons depends on the GABAergic fibers coming from the striatum and recurrent collateral fibers. It is known that the basal activity of the globus pallidus is modified by blocking dopaminergic receptors. In the present work, we analyzed the effects of the local application of a flavonoid, (-)-epicatechin, on the spiking of globus pallidus neurons in chloral hydrate-anesthetized rats and determined whether (-)-epicatechin applied bilaterally to the globus pallidus can modify the catalepsy induced by systemic administration of haloperidol. The results showed that (-)-epicatechin increased the basal firing of globus pallidus neurons in a dose-dependent manner and antagonized the inhibitory effect of GABA. Bilateral infusion of (-)-epicatechin to the globus pallidus diminished the catalepsy induced by haloperidol.
authors.affiliation: aAcademia de Fisiología Humana de la Escuela Superior de Medicina bSección de Investigación y Posgrado de la Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, Colonia Casco de Santo Tomás, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alatorre
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oviedo-Chávez
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Villalobos
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barrientos
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Querejeta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D002375:Catalepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005917:Globus Pallidus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D002392:Catechin; D006220:Haloperidol