Category: Other
Objective: Evaluate the impact of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) on weight gain in Parkinsonian rats: The primary objective would be to determine whether STN-DBS positively or negatively influences weight gain in rats with Parkinson’s disease.
Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is considered as a gold standard therapy for motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, its effects on non-motor symptoms are still under debate. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of STN DBS on motor performance, anxiety, pain, food intake and weight gain.
Method: We developed a new implantable wireless stimulator, adapted for chronic DBS in rodents and that mimics the conditions of DBS in patients. Motor deficits were evaluated using the open field and stepping tests, anxiety by the plus elevated maze and pain by the von Frey test. We weighed the food ingested by the animals and recorded their daily weights.
Results: The stimulation device was well tolerated by the animals. STN DBS (130 Hz frequency, 60 mA pulse width and variable intensities) improved the motor deficits induced by 6-OHDA in rats in the open field as it significantly increased the number of spontaneous movements and the distance traveled by the animals compared to the values obtained without stimulation. It also improved anxiety in animals with bilateral lesion of dopamine neurons as it increased the number of entries and time spent in the open arms of the elevated maze. Furthermore, STN DBS improved pain by reversing mechanical allodynia measured by the von Frey test. Finally, STN DBS did not change food intake behavior and the evolution of body weight as compared with 6-OHDA animals without stimulation
Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that selective STN DBS dramatically improved motor deficits and certain of the non-motor disorders related to PD without inducing overweight or obesity contrary to what is described in some operated patients.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
H. Tibar, K A. Charles, F. Naudet, PH. De-Deurwaerdère, A. Benazzouz. Selective subthalamic DBS improved non-motor disorders without affecting weight gain in parkinsonism [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2024; 39 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/selective-subthalamic-dbs-improved-non-motor-disorders-without-affecting-weight-gain-in-parkinsonism/. Accessed June 14, 2025.« Back to 2024 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/selective-subthalamic-dbs-improved-non-motor-disorders-without-affecting-weight-gain-in-parkinsonism/