Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus represents an effective technique for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. However, the underlying therapeutic mechanisms remain undefined.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of the local field potentials of subthalamic nucleus and primary motor cortex in Parkinson’s disease.
METHODS: Parkinson’s disease model of experimental group was constructed by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine into substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental area of Wistar rats. Normal saline was injected into substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental area of control rats. The metal electrode was used to record local field potentials of subthalamic nucleus and primary motor cortex of control and Parkinson’s disease rats in different states.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The frequency and energy of local field potentials in the subthalamic nucleus of experimental group was higher than that of the control group as a whole (P < 0.05). Compared with stationary state, the local field potentials in the primary motor cortex of control rats during the execution of reach movement changed significantly at 7 to 12 Hz and 12 to    30 Hz (P < 0.05), and the changes at 30 to 100 Hz were extremely significant (P < 0.01). The frequency became smaller as a whole during the execution of reach movement. Spectral decomposition of the local field potentials in the primary motor cortex of Parkinson’s disease rats changed little in different states. The only extremely significant change was observed at 30 to 100 Hz   (P < 0.01). These results suggest that the electrical activity of subthalamic nucleus is overactive and the electrical activity of primary motor cortex is inhibited in Parkinson’s disease rats.