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The symptom of Parkinson's disease that is most disabling and difficult to treat is akinesia. We have previously shown that low-frequency stimulation of the pedunculopontine nucleus can alleviate such akinesia in a macaque rendered Parkinsonian using 1-methyl 4-phenyl 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine. Here, we have extended that study to show that adding stimulation of the pedunculopontine nucleus to levodopa treatment in this Parkinsonian monkey increased its motor activity significantly more than levodopa alone. This additivity suggests that pedunculopontine nucleus stimulation may improve movement by acting at a site downstream from where levodopa therapy affects the basal ganglia.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Neuroreport

Publication Date

24/04/2006

Volume

17

Pages

639 - 641

Keywords

Animals, Antiparkinson Agents, Behavior, Animal, Dopamine, Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation, Electric Stimulation, Levodopa, MPTP Poisoning, Macaca mulatta, Male, Motor Activity, Pedunculopontine Tegmental Nucleus