Subthalamic Stimulation and Neuronal Activity in the Substantia Nigra in Parkinson's Disease

• Published in: Journal of neurophysiology Vol. 97; no. 6; pp. 4017 - 4022
• Main Authors: Maltete, D, Jodoin, N, Karachi, C, Houeto, J. L, Navarro, S, Cornu, P, Agid, Y, Welter, M. L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Am Phys Soc 01.06.2007
• Subjects: Action Potentials - physiology; Action Potentials - radiation effects; Aged; Deep Brain Stimulation - methods; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Electric Stimulation - methods; Humans; Middle Aged; Neurons - physiology; Neurons - radiation effects; Parkinson Disease - pathology; Parkinson Disease - physiopathology; Parkinson Disease - therapy; Substantia Nigra - pathology; Subthalamic Nucleus - radiation effects
• ISSN: 0022-3077; 1522-1598
• DOI: 10.1152/jn.01104.2006

1 Centre d'Investigation Clinique, Fédération des Maladies du Système Nerveux, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U-679, Université Pierre et Marie Curie and 2 Service de Neurochirurgie, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris; 3 Service de Neurologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Hôpital Poitiers, Poitiers; and 4 Service de Neurologie, CHU Hôpital Rouen, Rouen, France Submitted 16 October 2006; accepted in final form 17 April 2007 High-frequency stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is an effective treatment for severe forms of Parkinson's disease (PD). To study the effects of high-frequency STN stimulation on one of the main output pathways of the basal ganglia, single-unit recordings of the neuronal activity of the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) were performed before, during, and after the application of STN electrical stimulation in eight PD patients. During STN stimulation at 14 Hz, no change in either the mean firing rate or the discharge pattern of SNr neurons was observed. STN stimulation at 140 Hz decreased the mean firing rate by 64% and the mean duration of bursting mode activity of SNr neurons by 70%. The SNr residual neuronal activity during 140-Hz STN stimulation was driven by the STN stimulation. How the decrease in rate and modification of firing pattern of SNr-evoked neural activity, during high-frequency STN stimulation, contribute to the improvement of parkinsonian motor disability remains to be elucidated. Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: M. L. Welter, Centre d'Investigation Clinique, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, 47 bvd de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France (E-mail: marie-laure.welter{at}psl.aphp.fr )