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Involvement of the subthalamic nucleus in glutamatergic compensatory mechanisms
Author(s) -
Bezard Erwan,
Boraud Thomas,
Bioulac Bernard,
Gross Christian E.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1460-9568.1999.00627.x
Subject(s) - subthalamic nucleus , glutamatergic , dopaminergic , neuroscience , globus pallidus , mptp , parkinsonism , basal ganglia , psychology , parkinson's disease , dopamine , medicine , deep brain stimulation , biology , central nervous system , glutamate receptor , disease , receptor
The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the subthalamic nucleus (STN) was implicated in the glutamatergic compensatory mechanisms which have been shown to mask the parkinsonian motor abnormalities at the end of the presymptomatic period in experimental parkinsonism. Using multiunit electrophysiological recordings, we follow changes of activity occurring in the STN and in both the pars externalis and the pars internalis of the globus pallidus of monkeys chronically intoxicated with 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), according to a protocol designed to mimic the gradual evolution of dopaminergic neuronal death. STN activity augmented significantly in the course of treatment, even before the first appearance of clinical signs (P < 0.01). This result would indicate that the STN, which increases its level of activity even before the end of the presymptomatic period, is principally responsible for the instigation of glutamatergic compensatory mechanisms which allow the maintenance of the striatal dopaminergic homeostasis.