Quisqualate- and NMDA-sensitive [3H]glutamate binding in primate brain.

Excitatory amino acids (EAA) such as glutamate and aspartate are probably the neurotransmitters of a majority of mammalian neurons. Only a few previous studies have been concerned with the distribution of the subtypes of EAA receptor binding in the primate brain. We examined NMDA- and quisqualate-sensitive [3H]glutamate binding using quantitative autoradiography in monkey brain (Macaca fascicularis).

Spontaneous neuronal unit activity in the primate basal ganglia and the effects of precentral cerebral cortical ablations.

The discharge properties of single neuronal units in the putamen, caudate nucleus, and globus pallidus were studied in awake primates. The effects of restricted deafferentation of the striatum were determined by recording single unit activity in animals with unilateral ablation of areas 4 and 6 of Brodmann. The most striking change was on the regularity of unit firing in the putamen.

Thalamic, brainstem, and cerebellar glucose metabolism in the hemiplegic monkey.

Unilateral ablation of cerebral cortical areas 4 and 6 of Brodmann in the macaque monkey results in a contralateral hemiplegia that resolves partially with time. During the phase of dense hemiplegia, local cerebral metabolic rate for glucose (1CMRG1c) is decreased significantly in most of the thalamic nuclei ipsilateral to the ablation, and there are slight contralateral decreases. The lCMRGlc is reduced bilaterally in most of the brainstem nuclei and bilaterally in the deep cerebellar nuclei, but only in the contralateral cerebellar cortex.

Experimental hemiplegia in the monkey: basal ganglia glucose activity during recovery.

Unilateral ablation of cerebral cortical areas 4 and 6 of Brodmann in the macaque monkey results in a dense contralateral hemiplegia that recovers partially with time. During the phase of dense hemiplegia, the local cerebral metabolic rate for glucose (lCMRGlc) is decreased significantly in the caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra, and red nucleus of the hemisphere ipsilateral to the lesion. In the present study, lCMRGlc in the basal ganglia was studied during the phase of partial recovery of motor activity.

Basal ganglia glucose utilization after recent precentral ablation in the monkey.

In the macaque monkey, unilateral ablation of areas 4 and 6 of Brodmann results initially in a significant decrease of glucose metabolic activity in the ipsilateral caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and subthalamic nucleus. The contralateral hemisphere shows nonsignificant but consistently decreased activity in the caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus. Cerebral blood flow is decreased in the same pattern as the glucose metabolic activity.