Reversal of Rigidity and Improvement in Motor Performance by Subthalamic High‐frequency Stimulation in MPTP‐treated Monkeys
European Journal of Neuroscience. 1993-04-01; 5(4): 382-389
DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.1993.tb00505.x
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1. Eur J Neurosci. 1993 Apr 1;5(4):382-9. doi:
10.1111/j.1460-9568.1993.tb00505.x.
Reversal of rigidity and improvement in motor performance by subthalamic
high-frequency stimulation in MPTP-treated monkeys.
Benazzouz A(1), Gross C, Féger J, Boraud T, Bioulac B.
Author information:
(1)Laboratoire de Neurophysiologie, CNRS URA 1200, Université de Bordeaux II,
France.
In Parkinson’s disease the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra
is associated with global disorganization of basal ganglia activity and, in
particular, with increased activity of the excitatory glutamatergic neurons of
the subthalamic nucleus. Recent experimental studies have shown that
parkinsonian symptoms can be alleviated by selective lesioning of the
subthalamic nucleus in monkeys treated with
1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). We measured the effect of
high-frequency stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus in two unilaterally
MPTP-treated monkeys in order to determine whether it was possible to obtain
reversible, gradual and controllable functional impairment of this structure.
Clinical, mechanographic and electromyographic results demonstrate that this
technique can alleviate parkinsonian rigidity and bradykinesia without causing
dyskinesia or hemiballismus. This study supports the hypothesis that the
subthalamic nucleus and its excitatory projections have an important role in the
mechanisms sustaining the expression of parkinsonian motor changes, and suggests
that high-frequency stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus could be included in
treatment for parkinsonism.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.1993.tb00505.x
PMID: 8261116 [Indexed for MEDLINE]