Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation induces functional deficits in norepinephrinergic neurotransmission in a Parkinson's disease model.

Background: Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) is a successful treatment option in Parkinson's disease (PD) for different motor and non-motor symptoms, but has been linked to postoperative cognitive impairment.

Aim: Since both dopaminergic and norepinephrinergic neurotransmissions play important roles in symptom development, we analysed STN-DBS effects on dopamine and norepinephrine availability in different brain regions and morphological alterations of catecholaminergic neurons in the 6-hydroxydopamine PD rat model.

Methods: We applied one week of continuous unilateral STN-DBS or sham stimulation, respectively, in groups of healthy and 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats to quantify dopamine and norepinephrine contents in the striatum, olfactory bulb and dentate gyrus.