Effect of Subthalamic Nucleus Stimulation on Pedunculopontine Nucleus Neural Activity

Abstract

Background: The pedunculopontine nucleus has recently been proposed as an alternative target for deep brain stimulation for the treatment of medically intractable Parkinson's disease. The suggested indication for pedunculopontine nucleus deep brain stimulation is severe and medically intractable axial symptoms such as gait and postural impairment. Objective: Our goal in this study was to describe the effects of subthalamic nucleus stimulation on pedunculopontine nucleus electrophysiological activity. Methods: Fourteen male Wistar rats were divided into a sham stimulation group and an experimental group. In both groups, electrodes were implanted bilaterally into the subthalamic nucleus and into the right pedunculopontine nucleus. Microelectrode recordings were carried out in both groups prior to and during subthalamic nucleus stimulation. Results: Subthalamic nucleus stimulation produced no clear inhibition of neuronal firing in the pedunculopontine nucleus. However, we found that stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus at 60 Hz produces some entrainment of pedunculopontine nucleus neuronal firing and a shift of subthalamic nucleus firing patterns to more tonic and random patterns. These results are consistent with the effects of deep brain stimulation on neuronal activity in the subthalamic nucleus and globus pallidus internus. Conclusion: The result of this study provides additional evidence to improve our understanding of the mechanism of subthalamic nucleus-deep brain stimulation, and its physiological consequences.

The “curved lead pathway” method to enable a single lead to reach any two intracranial targets

“…Conventionally, the “straight lead pathway” method is used for lead implantation. Under most circumstances, multi-target simulation/recording can only be achieved via increased number of leads181920212223242731. In this case, the “curved lead pathway” method may complement the current “straight lead pathway” method, make lead implantation for multiple targets more convenient, and expand experimental techniques of brain function research.…”

“…This preliminary study indicated that curved lead implantation is relatively safe with an appropriately designed curved lead pathway. As the research on brain function moves forward, more and more researchers2627313233 worked on stimulating or recording multiple intracranial targets. The “curved lead pathway” method might contribute to the further development of electrophysiological techniques.…”

“…It has been reported18192021222324252627282930313233343536 that implanting leads to multiple targets is of important practical value. In terms of treating diseases, quadruple-targeted DBS might lead to better treatment results compared to dual-targeted DBS18192021222324.…”

“…In terms of treating diseases, quadruple-targeted DBS might lead to better treatment results compared to dual-targeted DBS18192021222324. In animal studies, there are many researchers who stimulate and/or recorde multiple nuclei simultaneously252627282930313233.…”

“…This “straight lead pathway” method is suitable for only a few combinations of targets, such as internal globus pallidus (GPi) + external globus pallidus (GPe)35 or internal capsule + accumbens nucleus36, and is not applicable when the distance between the two targets is far, or the extension of the line that connects the two targets is not a suitable pathway for lead implantation. In most cases, the more targets researchers stimulate and/or recorde, the more leads are implanted181920212223242731. However, the increasing number of leads could lead to increased incidence of complications37, and increased medical cost related to purchasing the leads.…”