N. Aihara et al., STRIATAL GRAFTS IN INFARCT STRIATOPALLIDUM INCREASE GABA RELEASE, REORGANIZE GABA, RECEPTOR AND IMPROVE WATER-MAZE LEARNING IN THE RAT, Brain research bulletin, 33(5), 1994, pp. 483-488
We grafted fetal striatal cells in ischemic rat models, and investigat
ed graft survival/growth, GABA release, GABA(A) receptor reorganizatio
n and functional recovery. One hour intraluminal occlusion of the midd
le cerebral artery (MCA) induced ischemic infarct in the lateral part
of the striatum and adjacent cortex. In ischemic rats, the acquisition
of Morris' water-maze learning was significantly slower than that of
control rats. In these animals GABA level in the globus pallidus, dete
cted by microdialysis, was about the half of that of controls. However
, after the grafts of fetal striatal cells in the striatopallidum, the
acquisition was improved, thus no difference was observed in the time
course of learning curves in control and grafted animals. GABA level
recovered to almost normal level by the graft. It further increased by
the treatment of a GABA uptake blocker (nipecotic acids) in the perfu
sion. In the grafts, GABA(A) receptor organization detected by autorad
iography using [H-3] labeled SR95531 was restored for more than 1 year
after the graft. Data suggest that fetal striatal cell grafts in infa
rct striatum may partially reconstruct striatopallidal GABA projection
and reorganize GABA(A) receptor. This might be a basis of improvement
of function.