Striatal efferent fibers play a role in maintaining rotational behavior in the rat

Science. 1977 Oct 7;198(4312):62-4. doi: 10.1126/science.897683.

Abstract

Rats in which ascending dopamine-containing neurons have been unilaterally destroyed by injections of 6-hydroxydopamine are known to rotate after being injected with apomorphine or L-dopa. The rotation is markedly reduced by either (i) ipsilateral electrocoagulations of the caudate-putamen or internal capsule or (ii) ipsilateral coronal knife cuts immediately rostral to the substantia nigra. Neostriatal efferent fibers, in particular the strionigral projection, appear to be required for the expression of this dopamine-dependent behavior.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apomorphine / pharmacology
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology*
  • Brain Mapping
  • Caudate Nucleus / physiology
  • Corpus Striatum / physiology*
  • Diencephalon / physiology
  • Efferent Pathways / physiology
  • Hydroxydopamines / pharmacology
  • Levodopa / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Motor Activity / physiology*
  • Putamen / physiology
  • Rats
  • Substantia Nigra / physiology

Substances

  • Hydroxydopamines
  • Levodopa
  • Apomorphine