Dopaminergic agents reverse parkinsonism but commonly induce dyskinesia in
patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) on long-term levodopa therapy. The a
im of this study was to determine the neurophysiologic correlates of the am
elioration of parkinsonism and the involuntary movements produced by the do
pamine agonist apomorphine. Seventeen PD patients were given apomorphine (2
-6 mg) before surgery. Neural activity was recorded for individual neurons
and for populations of neurons before and after apomorphine. Both internal
(GPI) and external (GPe) segments of the globus pallidus were sampled in pa
tients undergoing pallidal surgery. The subthalamic nucleus (STN) was sampl
ed in STN surgery patients. Results suggest that dopaminergic agents act by
decreasing GPi and STN activity, and increasing GPe activity, and that dru
g-induced dyskinesias results from a large reduction in GPi firing.