Deep brain stimulation for Stroke: Continuous stimulation of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus has no impact on skilled walking in rats after photothrombotic stroke

Background: Gait impairment after stroke is considered as a loss of cerebral function but is also the result of dysfunctional cerebral signals travelling to the spinal motor centres. A therapeutic option to restore disturbed cerebral network activity is deep brain stimulation (DBS). Methods: A promising target for neuromodulation might be the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg), which contributes to the initiation and control of gait. To test this hypothesis, we trained eighteen rats to cross a horizontal ladder and a wooden beam before inflicting a photothrombosis in the right sensorimotor cortex and implanting a stimulating electrode in the ipsilateral PPTg. Results: Continuous high-frequency DBS (130 Hz; amplitude 55 ± 5 µA) of rats for 10 days yielded no significant improvement of skilled walking when examined with the ladder rung walking test and beam walking test compared to shamstimulation. Conclusion: In contrast to DBS of the cuneiform nucleus, PPTg-stimulation improves neither control of gait nor balance after stroke.

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Unilateral deep brain stimulation of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus improves oromotor movements in Parkinson’s disease

Brain Stimulation ◽

10.1016/j.brs.2012.01.002 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 634-641 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Paolo Mazzone ◽

Luca Padua ◽

Gianni Falisi ◽

Angelo Insola ◽

Tiziana M. Florio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Deep Brain Stimulation ◽

Brain Stimulation ◽

Pedunculopontine Tegmental Nucleus ◽

Tegmental Nucleus ◽

Deep Brain ◽

Stimulation Of

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Deep Brain Stimulation of the Pedunculopontine Tegmental Nucleus Renders Neuroprotection through the Suppression of Hippocampal Apoptosis: An Experimental Animal Study

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci10010025 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 25

Author(s):

Chellappan Praveen Rajneesh ◽

Tsung-Hsun Hsieh ◽

Shih-Ching Chen ◽

Chien-Hung Lai ◽

Ling-Yu Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lipid Peroxidation ◽

Deep Brain Stimulation ◽

Brain Stimulation ◽

Interleukin 6 ◽

Pedunculopontine Tegmental Nucleus ◽

Experimental Animals ◽

Tegmental Nucleus ◽

Hippocampal Apoptosis ◽

Deep Brain ◽

Stimulation Of

The core objective of this study was to determine the neuroprotective properties of deep brain stimulation of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus on the apoptosis of the hippocampus. The pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus is a prime target for Parkinson′s disease and is a crucial component in a feedback loop connected with the hippocampus. Deep brain stimulation was employed as a potential tool to evaluate the neuroprotective properties of hippocampal apoptosis. Deep brain stimulation was applied to the experimental animals for an hour. Henceforth, the activity of Caspase-3, myelin basic protein, Bcl-2, BAX level, lipid peroxidation, interleukin-6 levels, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels were evaluated at hours 1, 3 and 6 and compared with the sham group of animals. Herein, decreased levels of caspases activity and elevated levels of Bcl-2 expressions and inhibited BAX expressions were observed in experimental animals at the aforementioned time intervals. Furthermore, the ratio of Bcl-2/BAX was increased, and interleukin -6, lipid peroxidation levels were not affected by deep brain stimulation in the experimental animals. These affirmative results have explained the neuroprotection rendered by hippocampus apoptosis as a result of deep brain stimulation. Deep brain stimulation is widely used to manage neuro-motor disorders. Nevertheless, this novel study will be a revelation for a better understanding of neuromodulatory management and encourage further research with new dimensions in the field of neuroscience.

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