Intrathalamic Implants of GABA-Releasing Polymer Matrices Reduce Motor Impairments in Rats with Excitotoxically Lesioned Striata

Authors: Rozas G.¹; Liste I.¹; Lopez-Martin E.¹; Guerra M.J.¹; Kokaia M.²; Labandeira-Garcia J.L.¹

Source: Experimental Neurology, Volume 142, Number 2, December 1996 , pp. 323-330(8)

Publisher: Academic Press

Abstract:

Current models of basal ganglia disorders suggest that the choreoathetosis is the end result of reduced GABAergic inhibition of the motor thalamus. GABA-releasing polymer matrices or control matrices without GABA were implanted either unilaterally or bilaterally in the vicinity of the ventromedial thalamic nucleus of normal rats and of rats with unilateral or bilateral excitotoxic striatal lesions (rat model of Huntington's disease), to study the effects of these GABA-releasing matrices on amphetamine-induced rotational behavior (unilateral implants in unilaterally lesioned rats) and on overnight spontaneous locomotor activity (bilateral implants in bilaterally lesioned rats). Unilateral implants led to a reduction (about 25%) in motor asymmetry; the response was transitory, probably because of the exhaustion of GABA release by the matrix. Some rats showed a more marked and permanent reduction of motor asymmetry, but this was probably due to lesion of the ventromedial nucleus or its thalamocortical projection. Bilateral implants of GABA-releasing matrices (but not control matrices) led to a marked (about 65%) but again transitory reduction in the locomotor hyperactivity induced by bilateral striatal lesion. These results suggest that implantation of a GABA-releasing source may be an effective alternative to intrathalamic fetal-tissue grafts or lesions as an experimental approach to the treatment of hyperkinetic movement disorders.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Faculty of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 15705, Spain 2: Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Lund, S-221 85, Sweden

Publication date: 1996-12-01

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Anatomy & Physiology ,  Neurology & Psychiatry
• By this author: Rozas G. ;  Liste I. ;  Lopez-Martin E. ;  Guerra M.J. ;  Kokaia M. ;  Labandeira-Garcia J.L.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers