Analysis of morphological and neurochemical changes in subthalamic nucleus neurons in response to a unilateral 6-OHDA lesion of the substantia nigra in adult rats.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Subthalamic nucleus (STN) neurons undergo changes in their pattern of activity and morphology during the clinical course of Parkinson's disease (PD). Striatal dopamine depletion and hyperactivity of neurons in the parafascicular nucleus (Pf) of the intralaminar thalamus are predicted to contribute to the STN changes.

Objective

This study investigated possible morphological and neurochemical changes in STN neurons in a rat model of unilateral, nigral dopamine neuron loss, in relation to previously documented alterations in Pf neurons.

Methods

Male Sprague-Dawley rats received a unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Rats were randomly divided into two groups (6/group) for study at 1 and 5 months by

SUBMITTER: Sedaghat K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8019994 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature