Yasutaka Aiko

Altered local cerebral glucose utilization induced by electrical stimulations of the thalamic sensory and parafascicular nuclei in rats

Alterations in local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) induced by electrical stimulation of the sensory relay nucleus (VPL) or parafascicular nucleus (Pf) of the thalamus in conscious rats were measured by the [14C]2-deoxyglucose method, the objective being to assess the mechanism of analgesia induced by electrical stimulations of these structures. Stimulation of the VPL induced an ipsilateral increase in LCGU in the sensory thalamic nucleus itself, the sensory cortex and substantia nigra. Stimulation of the Pf induced bilateral increases in LCGU in the Pf and central medial nucleus of the thalamus, sensory cortex, ventral areas of the striatum and substantia nigra, and ipsilateral increase in LCGU in the periaqueductal gray, parabrachial pontine nucleus and deep layers of the superior colliculus. No significant change in LCGU was detected in the raphe dorsalis, raphe magnus and spinal dorsal horn, in both groups. Our observations coincide with clinical findings that unilateral electrical stimulation of the Pf leads to amelioration of intractable pain bilaterally, while that of the VPL induces an analgesia restricted to the contralateral side.

Alterations in local cerebral glucose utilization during electrical stimulation of the striatum and globus pallidus in rats

Alterations in local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) in conscious rats during electrical stimulation of the striatum and the globus pallidus were investigated using the [14C]deoxyglucose method. Stimulation of the globus pallidus produced a marked contraversive circling behavior, while stimulation of the striatum led only to contraversive head turning. Unilateral stimulation of the striatum increased LCGU bilaterally in the globus pallidus and substantia nigra pars compacta, but only ipsilaterally in the entopeduncular nucleus, substantia nigra pars reticulata and subthalamic nucleus. Similar stimulation of the globus pallidus increased LGCU in the globus pallidus, substantia nigra pars reticulata and compacta, entopeduncular nucleus, subthalamic nucleus, lateral habenular nucleus, parafascicular nucleus of the thalamus, deep layers of the superior colliculus and pedunculopontine nucleus, exclusively on the ipsilateral side. These results indicate that the electrical stimulation induces LCGU changes in the respective structures having both monosynaptic and transsynaptic neuronal inputs. Some changes may also be mediated by antidromic activation. They also suggest that activation of a synaptic process whether excitatory or inhibitory results in increases in LCGU. The bilateral modulatory effects of striatal stimulation may cancel out the circling behavior seen during pallidal stimulation, and cause only head turning.

Changes in Local Cerebral Glucose Utilization Induced by Electrical Stimulation of the Parafascicular and VPL Thalamic Nuclei in Rats

A parallel bipolar stimulating electrode was stereotactically inserted in Pf and VPL. The parameter of Pf stimulating was adjusted so the withdrawal response of rats to tail-pinch was diminished. The stimulation started immediately before 14C-deoxyglucose injection and lasted for 45 min, following which the rat was sacrificed. Coronal sections of the frozen brain were made and autoradiographs of these sections were prepared. LCGU was measured by Sokoloff’s 2-deoxyglucose method.

Altered local cerebral glucose utilization by unilateral frontal cortical ablations in rats

Alterations in local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) following ablations of the unilateral frontal cortex in rats were studied to elucidate the effect of the lesion on the functional activity in the related cerebral structures. Frontal cortical ablations (area 2, 4, 6 and I0) were made by aspiration on the ~ft side, and LCGU was evaluated at 7 days after the operation, using the [ C]deoxyglucose method. Significant decreases in LCGU in rats with unilateral frontal cortical ablations, were observed in the ipsilateral thalamic nuclei (ventroanterior-ventrolateral (VAL), ventrobasal (VB), reticular), red nucleus and pontine nucleus. The ipsilateral globus pallidus showed a significant LCGU increase. The contralateral cerebellar cortex showed a tendency toward a decrease in LCGU. The striatum, which receives direct projections from the frontal cortex, showed no LCGU change. These results indicated that ablations of unilateral frontal cortex in rats produced LCGU changes in the cerebral structures which have direct or indirect neuronal connection with the ablated area. These LCGU changes were, for the most part, brought about by alteration in the neuronal activity. Particularly, the LCGU increase in the globus pallidus, which receives transsynaptic neuronal Input from the frontal cortex, without changes in the striatum, was attributed to the functional alteration of the globus pallidus produced by the cortical ablation.

Hypothalamic hamartoma Report of two cases

7