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Fig. 5 | Molecular Neurodegeneration

Fig. 5

From: Pharmacogenetic stimulation of cholinergic pedunculopontine neurons reverses motor deficits in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease

Fig. 5

Stimulating PPTg cholinergic neurons drives functional recovery in lesioned rats. a Unilateral excitation of PPTg cholinergic improve scores in the PIT in L + D rats (n = 12) during + CNO, compared to baseline. A subtle increase in stepping distance by the contralateral forelimb was also seen post CNO in V + D rats (*p = 0.034, n = 12). Vertical cylinder test results reveal that PPTg cholinergic-specific stimulation rescued the contralesional limb deficit seen in L + D rats during b wall placement and c wall "hopping”. d Percentage unsuccessful contralateral forelimb placements by rats following stimulation of ipsilateral vibrissae over ten trials. Placement was unsuccessful for nearly all trials in the L + D and L + CV treated rats during -CNO, whereas responses by V + D and V + CV treated rats were near perfect. e Representative examples illustrating the distance covered (m) by rats of the different experimental groups showing how, at 5 weeks following the surgery, L + D rats covered significantly less distance in the Open Field arena when measures were taken at -CNO, compared to + CNO. Although the majority of parameters assessed in the Open Field showed complete recovery of function for L + D rats during + CNO in relation to baseline values, the rats of this group did not completely recover to pre-surgical performance levels in terms of ‘distance covered’ (see Table 1). However, a significantly improved effect was seen during + CNO compared to -CNO. In contrast, L + CV rats’ performance decreased between baseline and -CNO, while rats were similarly impaired during + CNO. V + CV rats displayed constant patterns of behaviour throughout all testing phases. Bars depict mean values ± SEM

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