Motor cortical muscimol injection disrupts forelimb movement in freely moving monkeys

Neuroreport. 1996 Oct 2;7(14):2379-84. doi: 10.1097/00001756-199610020-00020.

Abstract

To investigate how GABAA inhibition in the motor cortex is involved in motor control in freely moving infant macaque monkeys, muscimol, a GABAA agonist, was injected into the hand motor area and changes in movement parameters of visual reaching during apple pickup tests or a delayed response task were examined. After the injection (30 micrograms microliters-1) the monkeys tended to use the contralateral hand, and the ipsilateral hand showed a posture of dropped wrist and fingers, as if the radial nerve were paralysed. Movement time and/or reaction time of the ipsilateral hand was prolonged. Motorcortical GABAA inhibition is important for initiation of smooth flexion and/or extension movement of the hand and fingers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dominance, Cerebral
  • Forelimb / innervation
  • Forelimb / physiology*
  • GABA Agonists / administration & dosage
  • GABA Agonists / pharmacology
  • GABA Agonists / toxicity*
  • Hand / physiology
  • Injections
  • Macaca / physiology*
  • Macaca mulatta / physiology
  • Male
  • Motor Cortex / drug effects*
  • Motor Cortex / physiology
  • Movement / drug effects*
  • Movement / physiology
  • Muscimol / administration & dosage
  • Muscimol / pharmacology
  • Muscimol / toxicity*
  • Psychomotor Performance / drug effects*
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Receptors, GABA-A / drug effects
  • Receptors, GABA-A / physiology

Substances

  • GABA Agonists
  • Receptors, GABA-A
  • Muscimol