Deep brain stimulation of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus improves Parkinsonian rats' gait

Objective To access the effect deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) on gait of Parkinson disease (PD) rat models using Catwalk automated gait analysis system.Methods Fifteen male Sprague Dawley rats received stereotactic injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in the right medial forebrain bundle (MFB) to be unilateral PD rat models and simultaneously received an electrode implantion into the ipsilateral PPTg.Catwalk automated gait analysis system was employed to investigate the changes in gait parameters before and four weeks after surgery.Results After the PPTg-DBS,the stride and swing speeds were significantly increased and the stance and max contact (％) were significantly decreased in all four paws; the max contact area and mean intensity significantly decreased in the affected paw.Conclusion The PPTg-DBS can effectively improve gait function of unilateral PD rat models,and catwalk automated gait analysis system can objectively and effectively evaluate the gait changes. Key words: Parkinson's disease;  Deep brain stimulation;  Pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus;  Gait;  Catwalk automated gait analysis system