Chronic spinal cord electrical stimulation protects against 6-hydroxydopamine lesions

Sci Rep. 2014 Jan 23:4:3839. doi: 10.1038/srep03839.

Abstract

Although L-dopa continues to be the gold standard for treating motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), it presents long-term complications. Deep brain stimulation is effective, but only a small percentage of idiopathic PD patients are eligible. Based on results in animal models and a handful of patients, dorsal column stimulation (DCS) has been proposed as a potential therapy for PD. To date, the long-term effects of DCS in animal models have not been quantified. Here, we report that DCS applied twice a week in rats treated with bilateral 6-OHDA striatal infusions led to a significant improvement in symptoms. DCS-treated rats exhibited a higher density of dopaminergic innervation in the striatum and higher neuronal cell count in the substantia nigra pars compacta compared to a control group. These results suggest that DCS has a chronic therapeutical and neuroprotective effect, increasing its potential as a new clinical option for treating PD patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic Agents / toxicity
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Behavior, Animal / radiation effects*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Deep Brain Stimulation / methods*
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Male
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Motor Activity / radiation effects*
  • Neuroprotective Agents*
  • Oxidopamine / toxicity*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Long-Evans
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / chemically induced
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / pathology
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / therapy*
  • Spinal Cord Stimulation / methods

Substances

  • Adrenergic Agents
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Oxidopamine