Reduced reach-related modulation of motor thalamus neural activity in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.

摘要: Motor thalamus (Mthal) is a key node in the corticobasal ganglia (BG) loop that controls complex, cognitive aspects of movement. In Parkinson's disease (PD), profound alterations neuronal activity occur BG nuclei and cortex. Because Mthal located between these two structures, altered has been assumed to underlie pathogenesis PD motor deficits. However, date, inconsistent changes firing rate pattern have reported parkinsonian animals. Moreover, although distinct neurons, called low-threshold calcium spike bursts (LTS bursts), observed reduced preparations, it remains unknown whether they or what their role might be behaving We recorded spiking control unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned rats performing skilled forelimb-reaching task. show for first time modulated temporally precise during reach-to-grasp movements, with peak at reach-end troughs just before after it. identified LTS-like events on basis LTS burst characteristics. These were rare, but also modulated, decreasing incidence reach-end. The inhibitory modulations abolished rats. data confirm nigrostriatal dopamine depletion accompanied by specific deficits movement-related activity. would severely impair contributions program development cortex are likely an important factor underlying movement PD.