Activity of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra following lesions of the neostriatum by kainic acid
Doudet, D.; Gross, C.; Bioulac, B.
Comptes Rendus des Seances de la Societe de Biologie et de ses Filiales 178(3): 298-306
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-9026 PMID: 6238656 Document Number: 228127
Neostriatal lesions by kainic acid provide a good model for studying Huntington's chorea. The pattern of discharge of nigral dopaminergic neurons of rats subjected to a kainate lesions of the caudate nucleus was compared to the nigral activity in control (saline-injected) and normal rats. The observed changes suggest that neostriatal degeneration does not simply induce a nigral dopaminergic hyperactivity but rather a disorganization of their slow and rhythmic pattern of discharge, thus eliciting in the nigral neurons abnormal messages which may reach the motoneurons and participate in the genesis of choreic movements.