Frequent vocalizations and deep brain stimulation-responsive hyperkinesia in a striatal disinhibition rat model for Tourette syndrome.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The lack of a rodent model for both motor and phonic tics hinders research on deep brain stimulation (DBS) for refractory Tourette syndrome (TS). Striatal disinhibition with a gamma-aminobutyric acid A antagonist (bicuculline) was previously shown to induce hyperkinesia and vocalizations in monkeys, indicating its potential as a TS model. In rats, however, only hyperkinesia was validated, prompting us to investigate whether they can also develop abnormal vocalizations and whether both conditions respond to thalamic DBS.

Methods

Rats underwent surgical implantation of a unilateral guide cannula targeting the caudate putamen (CPu) or nucleus accumbens (NAc). Additionally, they were implanted with an ipsilateral stimulation electrode targeting the border between the

SUBMITTER: Sagalajev B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12284881 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature