The changes of neuronal activity of the zone incerta in a rodent model of Parkinson＇s disease

Objective To study the changes in neuronal activity of the zone incerta (ZI) following the unilateral lesion of the nigrostriatal pathway. Methods Eiectrophysiological recordings of ZI neurons were made in normal rats and in two groups of rats at different time intervals after injection of 6-hydrodopamine (6-OHDA) into the pars compacta of snbstantia nigra by extracellular recording in vivo. Results The results showed a significant increase in the mean firing rate of ZI during the second and fourth weeks after 6-OHDA lesion [-n=32, (3.6±2. 2)Hz, P<0.001; n=35, (9.3±6.6)Hz, P<0. 001, respectively] compared to that of normal rats [n=39, (9.2±5.2)Hz]. However, no significant change was observed between two groups of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. With regard to firing pattern, 7.7%(3/39) of ZI neurons discharged regularly, 82.1% (32/39) irregularly and 10. 3% (4/39) in bursts in normal rats. During the second week after 6-OHDA lesion, the regular, irregular and bursting firing neurons recorded in the ZI were 9.4% (3/32), 59. 4% (19/32) and 31.3% (10/32), and during fourth week, the regular, irregular and bursting firing neurons were 14.3% (5/35), 57.1% (20/35) and 28. 6% (10/35), respectively. The firing pattern of the neurons in the three different groups did not change significantly. Conclusion These results suggest that the firing rate of ZI neurons in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats is increased significantly, which may contribute to the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease.     

5-羟色胺受体-2拮抗剂米安色林对大鼠底丘脑核神经元活动的影响

目的观察5-羟色胺(5-HT)受体-2拮抗剂米安色林对大鼠底丘脑核(STN)神经元活动的影响。方法应用在体细胞外电生理学记录的方法观察经静脉注射的米安色林(2 mg/kg)对大鼠STN神经元自发电活动的作用。结果米安色林能够显著增强STN神经元的放电频率(P<0.05),使其从(7.77±5.28)Hz增至(9.12±5.28)Hz,而神经元的放电形式没有变化。结论米安色林通过5-HT2受体增加STN神经元的活动。     

Changes in firing rate and firing pattern of midbrain dopaminergic neurons after lesioning of the dorsal raphe nucleus by 5,7-drhydroxytryptamine in adult rats

Objective To study the effect of serotonergic efferent projection of the dorsal rophe nucleus (DRN) on the activity of substantia nigro pars compacta (SNc) and ventral tegmenta area (VTA) dopaminergic neurons after lesioning of the DRN by the neurotoxin 5,7-drhydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) in rot. Methods The changes in the firing rote and firing pattern of SNc and VTA dopaminergic neurons were observed with extrocellular recording in control and the lesioned rats. Results The results showed that the mean firing rotes of the fast-firing dopaminergic neurons of the SNc in control and the lesioned rots were (5.34±0. 13 ) Hz (n = 23 ) and ( 7.13±0. 49 ) Hz (n=37), respectively. The mean firing rote of the fast-firing dopaminergic neurons of the SNc in the lesioned rats was significantly increased when compared to that of control rots (P<0.01), while the mean firing rote of the slow-firing dopaminergic neurons of the SNc did not change. The mean firing rotes of dopaminergic neurons of the VTA in control and the lesioned rots were (5.27±0. 38)Hz (n=35) and (3.6±0.2)Hz (n=52), respectively. Lesioning of the DRN induced a significant decrease in the mean firing rote of dopaminergic neurons of the VTA. The firing pattern of SNc and VTA dopaminergic neurons changed towards a more bursting or irrgular firing after the lesioning. Conlusion These data suggest that the serotonergic efferent projections of the DRN significantly affect the activity of SNe and VTA dopaminergic neurons.