STRIATAL GRAFTS IN THE ISCHEMIC STRIATUM IMPROVE PALLIDAL GABA RELEASE AND PASSIVE-AVOIDANCE

Fetal striatal cells were grafted into the ischemic striatum of rats a nd pallidal GABA release, and behavioral improvement were investigated . Intraluminal occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) for 1 h i nduced ischemic infarcts in the lateral striatum and the adjacent cort ex. In ischemic rats, the performance of a passive avoidance task was disturbed, and the pallidal GABA level detected by microdialysis decre ased to about a half of control. After the graft, the deficit in the p assive avoidance was partially alleviated and the GABA level recovered moderately and increased further by the infusion of an uptake blocker . The data indicate that fetal striatal cell grafts in the ischemic st riatum partially restored both chemical and behavioral deficits.