EXCITOTOXIC LESIONS OF THE SUBTHALAMIC NUCLEUS AMELIORATE ASYMMETRY INDUCED BY STRIATAL DOPAMINE DEPLETION IN THE RAT

We investigated the effect of unilateral dorsal striatal dopamine depl etion (by intrastriatal infusion of 6-OHDA), ibotenic acid lesions of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and combined dopamine depletion and STN lesions on sensorimotor asymmetry using a test of somatosensory asymme try [T. Schallert et al., Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 16 (1982) 455-462 ]. The unilateral striatal dopamine depletion resulted in a somatosens ory asymmetry. This asymmetry was ameliorated in the rats with combine d dopamine depletion and STN lesion, indicating the potential benefici al nature of STN inactivation in rats with striatal dopamine depletion . (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.