Glutathione depletion: Starting point of brain metabolic stress, neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in rats.

Glutathione provides protection from oxidative stress-induced damage through the reduction of reactive oxygen species for the maintenance of oxidant homeostasis. Our purpose was to test the effects of depleting tissue GSH by buthionine sulfoximine on brain oxidative metabolism and cognitive performance in rats. Glutathione depletion induced a compensatory response on antioxidant enzymes and increase of cell damage indicators in all the examined cerebral areas at 24h.

Sensory-motor performance after acute glutathione depletion by L-buthionine sulfoximine injection into substantia nigra pars compacta.

Glutathione is the major antioxidant in the living cells. Its deficit has been linked to neurodegenerative disorders as Parkinson's disease but its role in the etiology of nigral degeneration and sensory-motor performance has been poorly explored. To evaluate the effect of glutathione depletion on nigro-striatal oxidative metabolism and sensory-motor performance in rats, l-buthionine sulfoximine (15 mM) or saline solution was injected into substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc).

Critical evaluation of the anatomical location of the Barrington nucleus: relevance for deep brain stimulation surgery of pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has become the standard surgical procedure for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Recently, the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPN) has emerged as a potential target for DBS in patients whose quality of life is compromised by freezing of gait and falls. To date, only a few groups have published their long-term clinical experience with PPN stimulation.