| The imbalance of the substantia nigra dopamine system and the striatum acetylcholine system will result in Parkinson’s disease(PD), which is characterized by the motor system dysfunction. As we know, the vestibular system is the key nucleus in regulating the body movements and balance ability. It has been reported that the vestibular function of PD patients is markedly decreased than normal individuals. However, the glutamate level and its receptors in the vestibular nucleus(VN) were changed in animal models of PD. Some researchers believed that the above findings are part of the mechanisms that lead to the movement and balance dysfunction of PD patients. Recent studies show that proper stimulation of vestibular system is able to improve the motor function of PD patients and the animal models, and VN can make synaptic connection with the striatum indirectly by nucleus parafascicularis. But there is no report about the relationship of neuro-chemical transmitters and its receptors among the nucleus parafascicularis, substantia nigra and striatum. The present project is designed using microdialysis and HPLC methods to detect the changes of monoamines, amino acids, cholinergic neurotransmitters in the VN and basal ganglia by electric stimulating vestibular organ. The methods of immunohistochemistry and pharmacology are also used in the project. We aim to find the functional relationship and the neurochemical mechanisms between the vestibular system and basal ganglia. Our results may provide new experimental evidences to improve or treat PD.Methods:Firstly, the clean SD male rats body weight 250-300g were in the experiments. These rats were divided two groups:control group and the experimental group. There is 6 rats in the control group. These rats were implanted stimulating electrode the vestibular organ but didn’t give the electrical stimulation. Experimental group include the MVN(Medial Vestibular nucleus)group, PF(Parafascicularis) group, the striatum (Caudate putamen, CPu group, SNR (Substantia nigra). Every group has 6 rats and totally number is 24. All of these rats were implanted stimulating electrode,and were recorded after 24 hours of surgery with the electrical stimulation. According the eye oculomotor reflex of rats to find the best electrical stimulation parameters. Then using immunohistochemistry method to observe the changes of c-Fos protein expression in MVN, PF, SNR and CPu before and after stimulating vestibular organResults:1. The best stimulation parameters were electricity intensity,1mA, frequency,50Hz, delay,0.1ms, wave width,1.0ms, time,3min.2. The effect of vestibular stimulation on c-Fos protein expression in MVN of rats. Experimental group was significantly colored by the control group of 5.72 rose to 34.80. The expression of c-Fos protein in the medial vestibular nucleus after stimulation and stimulation significantly increased, there were significant differences, with statistical significance (p<0.05, n=6)3. The expression of c-Fos protein in the nucleus of parafascicularis was significantly increased, and there’s marked difference between them., which was statistically significant (p<0.05, n=6).4. The effect of vestibular stimulation on c-Fos protein expression in the striatum. The expression of c-Fos protein in the striatum significantly increased and there were significant differences, (p<0.05, n=6)5. There was no significant increase in c-Fos protein expression in the substantia nigra after stimulation, and there was not statistically significant (p<0.05, n=6).Conclusions:1. The best stimulation parameters by stimulating peripheral vestibular organs induced the functional changes in the basal ganglia is electricity intensity,1mA, frequency,50Hz, delay,0.1ms, wave width,1.0ms, time,3min.2. Stimulating peripheral vestibular organ changed the function of the basal ganglia, there was a functional relationship between peripheral vestibular organ, parafascicular nucleus and corpus striatum. |
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