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Recent studies, mainly in animals, have shown that the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) in the upper brainstem has extensive connections with several motor centres in the CNS. This structure has also been implicated in the akinesia seen in patients with Parkinson's disease. Here we demonstrate that microinjection of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor A antagonist substance, bicuculline, into the PPN of non-human primates (n = 2) rendered parkinsonian with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) results in significant improvement of akinesia. The effect of bicuculline microinjection in the PPN matches that of oral administration of L-dopa. This finding opens up new possibilities in the management of akinesia, the most intractable symptom of advanced Parkinson's disease.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Brain

Publication Date

11/2002

Volume

125

Pages

2418 - 2430

Keywords

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, Animals, Bicuculline, Cholinergic Fibers, Female, GABA Antagonists, GABA-A Receptor Antagonists, Levodopa, Macaca mulatta, Male, Motor Activity, Neural Inhibition, Neural Pathways, Parkinsonian Disorders, Pons, Receptors, GABA-A, Recovery of Function, Tegmentum Mesencephali, Treatment Outcome, gamma-Aminobutyric Acid