High frequency stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus increases c-fos immunoreactivity in the dorsal raphe nucleus and afferent brain regions

Sonny K. H. Tan*, Marcus L. F. Janssen, Ali Jahanshahi, Leonidas Chouliaras, Veerle Visser-Vandewalle, Lee Wei Lim, Harry W. M. Steinbusch, Trevor Sharp, Yasin Temel

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

High frequency stimulation (HFS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is the neurosurgical therapy of choice for the management of motor deficits in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease, but this treatment can elicit disabling mood changes. Our recent experiments show that in rats, HFS of the STN both inhibits the firing of 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine; serotonin) neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and elicits 5-HT-dependent behavioral effects. The neural circuitry underpinning these effects is unknown. Here we investigated in the dopamine-denervated rat the effect of bilateral HFS of the STN on markers of neuronal activity in the DRN as well as DRN input regions. Controls were sham-stimulated rats. HFS of the STN elicited changes in two 5-HT-sensitive behavioral tests. Specifically, HFS increased immobility in the forced swim test and increased interaction in a social interaction task. HFS of the STN at the same stimulation parameters, increased c-fos immunoreactivity in the DRN, and decreased cytochrome C oxidase activity in this region. The increase in c-fos immunoreactivity occurred in DRN neurons immunopositive for the GABA marker parvalbumin. HFS of the STN also increased the number of c-fos immunoreactive cells in the lateral habenula nucleus, medial prefrontal cortex but not significantly in the substantia nigra. Collectively, these findings support a role for circuitry involving DRN GABA neurons, as well as DRN afferents from the lateral habenula nucleus and medial prefrontal cortex, in the mood effects of HFS of the STN.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1307-1315
JournalJournal of Psychiatric Research
Volume45
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2011

Keywords

  • Subthalamic nucleus
  • High frequency stimulation
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Depression
  • Serotonin (5-HT, 5-Hydroxytryptamine)
  • Dorsal raphe nucleus

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'High frequency stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus increases c-fos immunoreactivity in the dorsal raphe nucleus and afferent brain regions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this