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A basal ganglia pacemaker formed by the subthalamic nucleus and external globus pallidus

A basal ganglia pacemaker formed by the subthalamic nucleus and external globus pallidus The subthalamic nucleus of the basal ganglia (STN) is important for normal movement 1 , 2 as well as in movement disorders 3,4,5 . Lesioning 6 or deep-brain stimulation 7 , 8 of the STN can alleviate resting tremor in Parkinson's disease. The STN 5 and its target nuclei 9 , 10 display synchronized oscillatory burst discharge at low frequencies, some of which correlate with tremor, but the mechanism underlying this synchronized bursting is unknown. Here we show that the excitatory STN and inhibitory, external globus pallidus (GPe) form a feedback system that engages in synchronized bursting. In mature organotypic cortex–striatum–STN–GPe cultures, neurons in the STN and GPe spontaneously produce synchronized oscillating bursts at 0.4, 0.8 and 1.8 Hz. Pallidal lesion abolishes this bursting, whereas cortical lesion favours bursting at 0.8 Hz. Pallidal bursts, although weaker than STN bursts, were required for synchronized oscillatory burst generation by recruitment of subthalmic rebound excitation. We propose that the STN and GPe constitute a central pacemaker modulated by striatal inhibition of GPe neurons. This pacemaker could be responsible for synchronized oscillatory activity in the normal and pathological basal ganglia. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Nature Springer Journals

A basal ganglia pacemaker formed by the subthalamic nucleus and external globus pallidus

Plenz, Dietmar; Kital, Stephen T.
Nature , Volume 400 (6745) – Aug 12, 1999
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References (31)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 by Macmillan Magazines Ltd.
Subject
Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, multidisciplinary; Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, multidisciplinary; Science, multidisciplinary
ISSN
0028-0836
eISSN
1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/23281
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The subthalamic nucleus of the basal ganglia (STN) is important for normal movement 1 , 2 as well as in movement disorders 3,4,5 . Lesioning 6 or deep-brain stimulation 7 , 8 of the STN can alleviate resting tremor in Parkinson's disease. The STN 5 and its target nuclei 9 , 10 display synchronized oscillatory burst discharge at low frequencies, some of which correlate with tremor, but the mechanism underlying this synchronized bursting is unknown. Here we show that the excitatory STN and inhibitory, external globus pallidus (GPe) form a feedback system that engages in synchronized bursting. In mature organotypic cortex–striatum–STN–GPe cultures, neurons in the STN and GPe spontaneously produce synchronized oscillating bursts at 0.4, 0.8 and 1.8 Hz. Pallidal lesion abolishes this bursting, whereas cortical lesion favours bursting at 0.8 Hz. Pallidal bursts, although weaker than STN bursts, were required for synchronized oscillatory burst generation by recruitment of subthalmic rebound excitation. We propose that the STN and GPe constitute a central pacemaker modulated by striatal inhibition of GPe neurons. This pacemaker could be responsible for synchronized oscillatory activity in the normal and pathological basal ganglia.

Journal

Nature – Springer Journals

Published: Aug 12, 1999

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