Placebo-controlled chronic high-frequency stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus preserves dopaminergic nigral neurons in a rat model of progressive Parkinsonism
Experimental Neurology. 2008-03-01; 210(1): 257-260
DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2007.10.002
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1. Exp Neurol. 2008 Mar;210(1):257-60. Epub 2007 Oct 22.
Placebo-controlled chronic high-frequency stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus
preserves dopaminergic nigral neurons in a rat model of progressive Parkinsonism.
Harnack D(1), Meissner W, Jira JA, Winter C, Morgenstern R, Kupsch A.
Author information:
(1)Department of Neurology, Campus Virchow, Charité-Universitätsmedizin,
Augustenburger Platz 1, Berlin, Germany.
Chronic high-frequency stimulation (HFS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN)
protects nigral dopaminergic neurons from neurodegeneration in animal models of
Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, these data are challenged by the lack of
control for neuroprotective effects that might be related to tissue damage due to
electrode insertion or STN-HFS. Here we report the first placebo-controlled study
on continuous STN-HFS in a rat model of PD using an implantable microstimulation
system. We found a significant increase of preserved dopaminergic nigral neurons
on the lesioned side (expressed as ratio to the non-lesioned side) of
approximately 50% in comparison to STN sham-stimulated and STN-naive rats. These
data provide evidence for the phenotypic rescue of nigral dopamine neurons by
long-term STN-HFS in this animal model of PD.
DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2007.10.002
PMID: 18036524 [Indexed for MEDLINE]