高频刺激丘脑底核对帕金森病大鼠模型纹状体NOS阳性神经元的影响

目的观察高频刺激丘脑底核对帕金森病(PD)大鼠纹状体中NOS阳性神经元的影响,以探求其作用机制。方法应用6OHDA制备偏侧PD大鼠模型,丘脑底核区埋入刺激电极进行电刺激,采用组织化学方法观察纹状体中NOS阳性神经元的变化。结果PD大鼠纹状体中NOS阳性神经元数与正常大鼠相比明显增加(P<0.01),经电刺激后PD大鼠纹状体NOS阳性神经元数量明显减少,且与正常大鼠相比无显著性差异。结论高频电刺激丘脑底核治疗PD的机制之一可能是与其抑制纹状体NO的过度释放有关。     

皮层抑制对大鼠丘脑底核自发放电的影响

目的:观察皮层抑制对正常及帕金森病(PD)大鼠丘脑底核(STN)神经元自发放电的影响。方法:采用玻璃微电极细胞外记录法,观察正常和PD大鼠STN神经元的放电活动及脑内微量注射KCl后,两组大鼠STN神经元放电频率的变化。结果:对照组和PD组大鼠STN神经元放电频率分别为(9.78±0.71)Hz和(23.81±1.08)Hz,PD组大鼠放电频率显著高于对照组(P<0.01),且呈爆发式放电的神经元比例明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。皮层注射KCl后,经过较长的潜伏期,两组大鼠STN神经元放电频率均明显降低,后缓慢恢复。结论:PD大鼠STN神经元放电频率增高,爆发式放电增多,而抑制皮层可使这种异常放电得到改善,提示皮层兴奋性的改变可能是PD中STN活动增强的另一个诱因。     

电刺激大鼠束旁核对底丘脑核和丘脑腹内侧核神经元的影响

本工作旨在探讨电刺激束旁核（parafascicular nucleus,PF）对帕金森病模型（Parkinson’s disease,PD）大鼠神经行为的改善作用及其机制。成年雄性Sprague—Dawley大鼠黑质致密部注射6一羟基多巴胺建立PD大鼠模型。采用行为学方法观察电刺激PF对阿朴吗啡诱发的大鼠旋转行为的作用,并应用在体细胞外记录法观察电刺激PF对大鼠底丘脑核（subthalamic nucleus,STN）及丘脑腹内侧核（ventromedial nucleus,VM）神经元放电的影响。结果发现,高频电刺激（130Hz,0．4mA,5s）PF一周,明显改善PD大鼠旋转行为。细胞外放电记录显示,高频电刺激PF使PD大鼠STN神经元自发放电减少,且该作用具有频率依赖性。另外,高频电刺激PF可使VM神经元兴奋,该作用也是频率依赖性的。我们在实验中同时观察到微电泳谷氨酸（glutamicacid,Glu）受体拮抗剂MK-801使STN神经元放电频率减少或完全抑制,微电泳t氨基丁酸（T-amino butyricacid,GABA）受体拮抗剂印防己毒素（picrotoxin,Pic）则使神经元放电频率增加。以上结果表明,GABA能和GIu能传入纤维可会聚于同-STN神经元,并对后者有紧张性作用。高频刺激PF,使该核团到STN神经元的Glu能兴奋性输出减少,导致STN的失活。这一作用通过基底神经节的间接通路,最终释放了丘脑运动核团VM的活性。高频刺激PF经PF,STN和VM的神经通路而改善PD大鼠神经行为。     

低频电刺激大鼠脚桥核对丘脑腹外侧核神经元自发放电的影响及其机制

本文旨在观察低频电刺激脚桥核(pedunculopontine nucleus,PPN)对帕金森病(Parkinson’s disease,PD)模型大鼠丘脑腹外侧核(ventrolateral thalamic nucleus,VL)神经元自发放电活动的影响,以探讨低频电刺激PPN改善PD症状的作用机制。通过纹状体内注射6-羟多巴胺制备PD大鼠模型。采用在体细胞外记录、电刺激及微电泳方法,观察低频电刺激PPN、微电泳乙酰胆碱(acetylcholine,ACh)及其M型受体阻断剂阿托品(atropine,ATR)、γ-氨基丁酸(γ-aminobutyric acid,GABA)及其A型受体阻断剂荷包牡丹碱(bicuculline,BIC)对大鼠VL神经元放电频率的影响。结果显示,低频电刺激PPN可使正常大鼠和PD大鼠VL神经元自发放电频率增加。微电泳ACh对VL神经元具有兴奋和抑制两种作用,而微电泳ATR则主要抑制VL神经元,即使对被ACh抑制的神经元也产生抑制作用。微电泳GABA抑制VL神经元,而微电泳BIC则兴奋VL神经元。另外,在微电泳ACh的过程中微电泳GABA,被ACh兴奋或抑制的VL神经元放电频...     

电刺激大鼠脚内核对脚桥核神经元放电的影响

目的:观察电刺激大鼠脚内核(EP)对大鼠脚桥核(PPN)神经元自发放电的影响,进一步探讨脑内电刺激治疗帕金森病(PD)的机制。方法:应用细胞外记录的方法观察不同频率电刺激(强度0.6 mA,波宽0.06 ms,时程5 s,频率5 Hz、10Hz、20Hz、50Hz、100Hz、150Hz、200Hz)大鼠EP对PPN神经元放电的影响。结果:实验记录了大鼠33个神经元的自发放电,其放电频率在3.6~52.2Hz之间,平均为(15.95±8.56)Hz;当刺激频率为100Hz时,抑制效应最显著(P<0.05)。结论:高频电刺激大鼠EP对PPN神经元自发放电的影响主要为抑制作用,提示高频刺激EP可通过抑制PPN神经元活动参与PD的治疗。     

损毁或高频刺激丘脑底核对黑质神经元的保护作用

目的：探讨损毁或高频刺激丘脑底核（STN）对帕金森病（PD）大鼠黑质致密部神经元的保护作用及其可能的发生机制。方法：应用每羟基多巴胺（6-OHDA）制备偏侧PD大鼠模型,于丘脑底核（STN）区分别植入刺激电极给以高频电刺激,或注入鹅膏蕈氨酸（IA）进行损毁后,观察PD大鼠行为改变;运用尼氏（Nissl）染色、DNA原位末端标记技术（TUNEL）、免疫组化方法检测并分析黑质致密部（SNc）神经元存活及凋亡发生情况。结果：刺激组黑质致密部凋亡神经元的阳性率显著低于模型组与损毁组（P〈0．05）。与正常大鼠相比,刺激组Bel-2染色呈强阳性,Bel-2／Bax比值较高,模型组、损毁组SNc区的Bcl-2表达有所下调,Bax表达增加,Bcl-2／Bax比值降低（P〈0．05）,虽然损毁组SNc的凋亡阳性神经元少于模型组（P〈0．05）,但二者的Bel-2、Bax的表达及Bel-2／Bax比值无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。结论：损毁或高频刺激SIN对PD大鼠黑质SNc神经元存在保护作用,高频刺激的长期保护作用更为明显。     

外侧臂旁核神经元对穹隆下器逆向刺激和孤束核顺向刺激的反应

细胞外记录大鼠外侧臂旁核(LPBN)神经元单位放电,观察了刺激穹隆下器(SFO)在记录单位诱发的逆向反应和静脉注射新福林兴奋外周压力感受器和刺激孤束核(NTS)减压区诱发的顺向反应。实验发现:刺激 SFO,9.9%(15/151)的 LPBN 神经元有逆向反应。静脉注射新福林,40.7%(22/54)的 LPBN 神经元有抑制反应,27.8%(17/54)有兴奋反应。刺激 NTS,55.6%(94/169)的 LPBN 神经元呈现顺向兴奋反应;22.5%(38/169)呈现顺向抑制反应。观察静脉注射新福林对 SFO 刺激有逆向反应的 LPBN 神经元自发放电的影响,在两个受试单位均见抑制反应。观察刺激 NTS 对逆向反应单位自发放电的影响,在8个受试单位中,6个呈兴奋反应;2个呈抑制反应。以上结果表明:LPBN 接受来自 NTS 的兴奋性或抑制性压力感受性传入,并把这种信息经 LPBN-SFO 直接通路传输到 SFO。     

伤害性刺激和电针对大鼠中缝大核内缝-脊神经元的效应

用玻璃微电极细胞外记录大鼠中缝大核神经元放电,刺激脊髓胸段背外侧部诱发逆行动作电位,根据其潜伏期恒定性,能跟随高频刺激以及可与自发放电碰撞而消失等标准来鉴定缝-脊神经元。共记录45个缝-脊神经元,其传导速度多在15—60m/s 范围。对伤害性刺激发生兴奋性(增频)反应的31个,抑制性(减频)反应的6个。两个类型神经元的自发放电频率分别为5.74±0.96Hz 和12.03±2.68Hz。另有3个为兴奋抑制转化型,反应的转化与背景自发放电水平有关,即放电频率低时,对伤害性刺激为兴奋性反应,而当自发放电频率增高时,则转化为抑制性反应。此外还有5个神经元对伤害性刺激无明显反应。电针“足三里”对兴奋型的缝-脊神经元(n=13)能明显激活并抑制其伤害性反应,后者可能是由于下行抑制而产生的继发性效应。     

深部脑刺激对大鼠丘脑底核神经活动的影响

为了探求高频电刺激对受刺激核团的影响,在高频刺激丘脑底核的同时,同步记录了大鼠丘脑底核神经元活动．针对同步记录中刺激伪迹的难题,研究并应用了高效的刺激伪迹滤出算法,恢复了被掩盖的神经响应,且失真小．研究了刺激幅度、频率与神经元神经响应类型的关系,以及在临床治疗有效刺激参数下,高频刺激对神经元平均放电率的影响．研究结果显示,放电率的变化可能与帕金森症病理状态无直接关系,爆发式放电增多更可能是帕金森发病潜在的电生理基础,而受刺激核团的自发放电的抑制、放电率的降低及爆发式放电的减少则有可能是深部脑刺激作用机制的一部分．     

大鼠尾核头部对中缝大核神经元单位活动的影响及其可能途径

用玻璃微电极细胞外记录大鼠中缝大核(NRM)神经元的单位放电。共记录277个细胞,NRM 神经元自发放电频率大都在每秒0.5—20次之间,平均为6.41 Hz。其中221个神经元被电刺激尾所激活,35个被抑制,21个无明显变化。NRM 神经元对躯体刺激的反应类型与自发放电的特征有关,兴奋型神经元的自发放电频率较低((?)=4.96Hz),而抑制性神经元的自发放电频率较高((?)=15.03 Hz)。在24例兴奋型神经元中,刺激尾核头部能够激活大多数 NRM 神经元的自发放电和抑制其伤害感受性反应。导水管周围灰质微量注射纳洛酮(2.5ug/0.5μl,n=15)。能够明显阻断刺激尾核头部激活 NRM 神经元自发放电和抑制伤害感受性反应的效应。     

Blockade of mGluR5 reverses abnormal firing of subthalamic nucleus neurons in 6-hydroxydopamine partially lesioned rats

Activation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluRs) in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) results in burst-firing activity of STN neurons, which is similar to that observed in Parkinson's disease (PD). We examined the effects of chronic and systemic treatment with 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)-pyridine (MPEP), a selective mGluR5 antagonist, in firing activity of STN neurons in partially lesioned rats by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). In 6-OHDA-lesioned rats treated with vehicle, injection of 6-OHDA (4 microg) into the medial forebrain bundle produced a partial lesion causing 36% loss of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive (TH-ir) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). The 6-OHDA lesion in vehicle-treated rats showed an increasing firing rate and a more irregular firing pattern of STN neurons. Whereas chronic, systemic treatment of MPEP (3 mg/kg/day, 14 days) produced neuroprotecive effects on the TH-ir neurons and normalized the hyperactive firing activity of STN neurons in 6-OHDA partially lesioned rats. These data demonstrate that partial lesion of the nigrostriatal pathway increases firing activity of STN neurons in the rat, and chronic, systemic MPEP treatment has the neuroprotective effect and reverses the abnormal firing activity of STN neurons, suggesting that MPEP has an important implication for the treatment of PD.     

Predicting the Responses of Repetitively Firing Neurons to Current Noise

We used phase resetting methods to predict firing patterns of rat subthalamic nucleus (STN) neurons when their rhythmic firing was densely perturbed by noise. We applied sequences of contiguous brief (0.5–2 ms) current pulses with amplitudes drawn from a Gaussian distribution (10–100 pA standard deviation) to autonomously firing STN neurons in slices. Current noise sequences increased the variability of spike times with little or no effect on the average firing rate. We measured the infinitesimal phase resetting curve (PRC) for each neuron using a noise-based method. A phase model consisting of only a firing rate and PRC was very accurate at predicting spike timing, accounting for more than 80% of spike time variance and reliably reproducing the spike-to-spike pattern of irregular firing. An approximation for the evolution of phase was used to predict the effect of firing rate and noise parameters on spike timing variability. It quantitatively predicted changes in variability of interspike intervals with variation in noise amplitude, pulse duration and firing rate over the normal range of STN spontaneous rates. When constant current was used to drive the cells to higher rates, the PRC was altered in size and shape and accurate predictions of the effects of noise relied on incorporating these changes into the prediction. Application of rate-neutral changes in conductance showed that changes in PRC shape arise from conductance changes known to accompany rate increases in STN neurons, rather than the rate increases themselves. Our results show that firing patterns of densely perturbed oscillators cannot readily be distinguished from those of neurons randomly excited to fire from the rest state. The spike timing of repetitively firing neurons may be quantitatively predicted from the input and their PRCs, even when they are so densely perturbed that they no longer fire rhythmically.     

Increased bradykinesia in Parkinson’s disease with increased movement complexity: elbow flexion–extension movements

The present research investigates factors contributing to bradykinesia in the control of simple and complex voluntary limb movement in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. The functional scheme of the basal ganglia (BG)–thalamocortical circuit was described by a mathematical model based on the mean firing rates of BG nuclei. PD was simulated as a reduction in dopamine levels, and a loss of functional segregation between two competing motor modules. In order to compare model simulations with performed movements, flexion and extension at the elbow joint is taken as a test case. Results indicated that loss of segregation contributed to bradykinesia due to interference between competing modules and a reduced ability to suppress unwanted movements. Additionally, excessive neurotransmitter depletion is predicted as a possible mechanism for the increased difficulty in performing complex movements. The simulation results showed that the model is in qualitative agreement with the results from movement experiments on PD patients and healthy subjects. Furthermore, based on changes in the firing rate of BG nuclei, the model demonstrated that the effective mechanism of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in STN may result from stimulation induced inhibition of STN, partial synaptic failure of efferent projections, or excitation of inhibitory afferent axons even though the underlying methods of action may be quite different for the different mechanisms.     

帕金森病丘脑底核神经元的电活动特点

本研究探讨了帕金森病(Parkinson′s disease, PD)患者丘脑底核(subthalamic nucleus, STN)神经元电活动的特点及其与PD症状的关系. 35例PD患者在接受手术治疗的同时, 应用微电极细胞记录和EMG记录技术, 记录手术靶点STN及其周围结构神经元的电活动以及手术对侧肢体的EMG. 应用分析软件甄别单细胞电活动, 分析其特点及其与肢体EMG的关系. 结果表明, STN及其周围结构具有特征性放电活动.在36个记录针道中, 共发现436个STN神经元, 平均放电频率44.0±20.5 Hz. 其中, 56%的神经元呈不规则簇状放电; 15%呈紧张性放电; 29%呈规则的簇状放电, 其放电节律与肢体震颤的EMG高度一致(r2=0.66, P<0.01), 称之为震颤细胞. 在PD震颤型患者的STN中发现大量震颤细胞, 且80%位于STN中上部, 而在PD僵直型患者的STN中均发现与运动相关的细胞电活动. 本研究提示, 通过微电极记录技术可准确地判断STN的位置和范围; 与震颤活动相关的细胞放电和与运动相关细胞的放电与PD症状有内在关系; STN参与PD运动障碍的病理生理过程.     

帕金森病大鼠中缝背核5-羟色胺能神经元电活动的变化

本实验采用玻璃微电极细胞外记录法,观察了帕金森病(Parkinson’s disease,PD)大鼠中缝背核(dorsal raphe nucleus, DRN)5-羟色胺(5-hydroxytryptamine,5-HT)能神经元电活动的变化。在大鼠右侧中脑黑质致密部内微量注射6-羟多巴胺(6- hydroxydopamine,6-OHDA)制作PD模型。结果显示,对照组和PD组大鼠DRN中5-HT能神经元的放电频率分别是(1．76±0．11)spikes／s(n=24)和(2．43±0．17)spikes／(n=21),PD组大鼠的放电频率显著高于对照组(P<0．001)。在对照组大鼠,92％(22／24)的神经元呈规则放电,8％(2／24)为爆发式放电;在PD组大鼠,具有规则、不规则和爆发式放电的神经元比例分别为9％(2／21)、43％(9／21)和48％(10／21),爆发式放电的5-HT能神经元比例明显高于对照组(P<0．001)。在对照组大鼠,DRN内局部注射5-HT1A拮抗剂WAY-100635(3μg/200nL)显著增加5-HT能神经元的放电频率而不影响其放电形式(n=19,P<0．002);而WAY-100635不改变PD组大鼠5-HT能神经元的放电频率和放电形式(n=17,P>0．05)。结果提示,用6-OHDA损毁黑质致密部造成的PD模型大鼠中神经元5-HT1A受体功能失调,并且DRN参与PD的病理生理学机制。     

Effects of subthalamic nucleus lesions and stimulation upon corticostriatal afferents in the 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rat

Abnormalities of striatal glutamate neurotransmission may play a role in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease and may respond to neurosurgical interventions, specifically stimulation or lesioning of the subthalamic nucleus (STN). The major glutamatergic afferent pathways to the striatum are from the cortex and thalamus, and are thus likely to be sources of striatal neuronally-released glutamate. Corticostriatal terminals can be distinguished within the striatum at the electron microscopic level as their synaptic vesicles contain the vesicular glutamate transporter, VGLUT1. The majority of terminals which are immunolabeled for glutamate but are not VGLUT1 positive are likely to be thalamostriatal afferents. We compared the effects of short term, high frequency, STN stimulation and lesioning in 6-hydroxydopamine (6OHDA)-lesioned rats upon striatal terminals immunolabeled for both presynaptic glutamate and VGLUT1. 6OHDA lesions resulted in a small but significant increase in the proportions of VGLUT1-labeled terminals making synapses on dendritic shafts rather than spines. STN stimulation for one hour, but not STN lesions, increased the proportion of synapses upon spines. The density of presynaptic glutamate immuno-gold labeling was unchanged in both VGLUT1-labeled and -unlabeled terminals in 6OHDA-lesioned rats compared to controls. Rats with 6OHDA lesions+STN stimulation showed a decrease in nerve terminal glutamate immuno-gold labeling in both VGLUT1-labeled and -unlabeled terminals. STN lesions resulted in a significant decrease in the density of presynaptic immuno-gold-labeled glutamate only in VGLUT1-labeled terminals. STN interventions may achieve at least part of their therapeutic effect in PD by normalizing the location of corticostriatal glutamatergic terminals and by altering striatal glutamatergic neurotransmission.     

High frequency stimulation of the entopeduncular nucleus has no effect on striatal dopaminergic transmission

High frequency stimulation (HFS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is thought to be superior to stimulation of the internal pallidum (GPi) in alleviating symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, preliminary controlled studies comparing the effectiveness of both targets have not found significant differences in the improvement of parkinsonian symptoms, but have shown that STN stimulation allows a dramatic decrease in dopaminergic medication. We have previously shown that STN-HFS increases striatal extracellular dopamine (DA) metabolites, but not DA, in both naive and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats, whereas stimulation of the entopeduncular nucleus (EP), the rodent equivalent of the internal pallidum, does not affect DA or metabolite levels. Intriguingly, STN-HFS increases striatal DA release after inhibition of DA reuptake or metabolism, suggesting that this observation may have been obscured in non-drug treated animals by rapid and effective DA reuptake. Since STN-HFS further enhances DA metabolism after DA reuptake inhibition or depletion it has been proposed that STN-HFS increases both, striatal DA release and metabolism, independently. Therefore, the present study assesses the impact of EP-HFS on striatal DA release and metabolism in normal rats after inhibition of DA reuptake or metabolism, using microdialysis. In summary, our data demonstrate that, contrary to STN stimulation, EP-HFS has no effect on striatal DA release and metabolism. Thus, the present study provides a partial explanation for the reported clinical differences, and experimental evidence for differential mechanisms of action between HFS of the internal pallidum and the STN, that are most likely related to differences in functional anatomy.