Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established therapy for the treatment of Parkinsons disease, even though it is not yet fully understood. For the first time, a model for the chronic instrumentation of rats has been developed that allows for the study of DBS-effects with completely free-moving rats for up to 6 weeks.
The model was used in a comparative study with uni- and bipolar platinum/iridium-electrodes inserted into the subthalamic nucleus (STN) of 6-hydroxydopamin-induced hemiparkinsonian rats. DBS was applied using portable stimulators (130 Hz, 200 µA and 60 µs -needle pulses).
Lesion- and DBS-related effects on motor function and anxiety behavior were quantified with four different behavioral tests.
Persistent beneficial DBS-effects on lesion-induced akinesia and sensorimotor neglect were found in the stepping- and corridor-tests.
Electrical impedance spectroscopy allowed for the characterization of the electrode-encapsulation process.