Spinal cord stimulation improves forelimb use in an alpha-synuclein animal model of Parkinson's disease. (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brys, Ivani; Bobela, Wojciech; Schneider, Bernard L.; Aebischer, Patrick; Fuentes, Romulo
• Is Part Of: International journal of neuroscience. Volume 127:Number 1(2017)
• Page Start: 28
• Page End: 36
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: Parkinson's disease -- alpha-synuclein -- spinal cord stimulation; Nervous system -- Periodicals; 612.805
• DOI: 10.3109/00207454.2016.1138296
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7454

Abstract

Abstract : Neuromodulation by spinal cord stimulation has been proposed as a symptomatic treatment for Parkinson's disease. We tested the chronic effects of spinal cord stimulation in a progressive model of Parkinson's based on overexpression of alpha-synuclein in the substantia nigra. Adult Sprague Dawley rats received unilateral injections of adeno-associated virus serotype 6 (AAV6) in the substantia nigra to express alpha-synuclein. Locomotion and forepaw use of the rats were evaluated during the next 10 weeks. Starting on week 6, a group of AAV6-injected rats received spinal cord stimulation once a week. At the end of the experiment, tyrosine hydroxylase and alpha-synuclein immunostaining were performed. Rats with unilateral alpha-synuclein expression showed a significant decrease in the use of the contralateral forepaw, which was mildly but significantly reverted by spinal cord stimulation applied once a week from the 6th to the 10th week after the AAV6 injection. Long-term spinal cord stimulation proved to be effective to suppress or delay motor symptoms in a sustained and progressive model of Parkinson's and might become an alternative, less invasive neuromodulation option to treat this disease.