Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
330492 Neurobiology of Aging 2007 10 Pages PDF
Abstract

In order to determine its effects on locomotor-related striatal electrophysiology in aged rats, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) was infused (vehicle or 30 μg) into the right striatum of 24–25-month-old Fischer 344 (F344) rats. Multi-wire electrode arrays were then chronically implanted in striatum bilaterally. Thirty days later, striatal electrophysiological activity was recorded during freely moving conditions. Individual neurons were classified as locomotor-excited if they exhibited significant increases in firing rates during locomotor bouts versus periods of nonmovement. GDNF produced a significant increase in overall firing rates in locomotor-excited striatal neurons. This effect was observed in both the infused and the contralateral striatum. GDNF also attenuated the bursting activity of nonlocomotor-related striatal neurons, an effect that was also present bilaterally. These results suggest that GDNF's antiparkinsonism effects are associated with increased excitability of motor-related striatal neurons and diminished activity of neurons that do not exhibit explicit motor-related changes in activity. Such studies may aid in understanding the mechanism of potential therapies for movement disorders seen in aging and Parkinson's disease.

Related Topics
Life Sciences Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology Ageing
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