Striatal mechanism of the restless legs syndrome.

Study Objectives: Brain iron deficiency has been reported to be associated with the restless legs syndrome (RLS). However, 30%-50% of RLS patients do not respond to iron therapy, indicating that mechanisms other than brain iron deficiency may also participate in this disease. The striatum is known to be involved in the modulation of motor activity.

Substantia nigra pars reticulata-mediated sleep and motor activity regulation.

Study Objectives: The substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNR) is a major output nucleus of the basal ganglia. Animal studies have shown that lesions of the SNR cause hyposomnia and motor hyperactivity, indicating that the SNR may play a role in the control of sleep and motor activity.

Methods: Eight 8- to 10-week-old adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used.

Striatal histamine mechanism in the pathogenesis of restless legs syndrome.

Study Objectives: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) has been hypothesized to be generated by abnormal striatal dopamine transmission. Dopaminergic drugs are effective for the treatment of RLS. However, long-term use of dopaminergic drugs causes adverse effects.

Motor hyperactivity of the iron-deficient rat - an animal model of restless legs syndrome.

Background: Abnormal striatal dopamine transmission has been hypothesized to cause restless legs syndrome. Dopaminergic drugs are commonly used to treat restless legs syndrome. However, they cause adverse effects with long-term use.

New pathways and data on rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder in a rat model.

Objective: An abnormality in auditory evoked responses localised to the inferior colliculus (IC) has been reported in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) patients. The external cortex of the inferior colliculus (ICX) has been demonstrated not only to be involved in auditory processing, but also to participate in the modulation of motor activity.

Methods: Rats were surgically implanted with electrodes for electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) recording and guide cannulae aimed at the ICX for drug infusions.