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Excitotoxic Lesions of the Rodent Striatum

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Animal Models of Movement Disorders

Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 62))

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Abstract

This chapter reviews the most common methods and protocols used to induce and assess excitotoxic lesions of the rodent striatum. Excitotoxic agents act through glutamate receptors to initiate intracellular cascades that can result in neuronal degeneration via both apoptotic and necrotic mechanisms. Whether it is glutamate, an endogenous excitatory amino acid, or an analogue, the neurotoxic potential of the excitotoxin is dose dependent. Excitotoxic lesions of the striatum, whose post-synaptic neurones are rich in glutamate receptors, make it possible to investigate structural and functional aspects and to establish animal models of certain basal ganglia diseases that can serve as a platform to investigate numerous therapeutic avenues. Although the rodent striatum is a relatively large target, the delivery of the excitotoxin requires precise spatial and temporal delivery that can be achieved only with stereotactic surgery.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Molecular Neurosurgery, Department of Stereotactic Neurosurgery, University Freiburg - Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany

    Máté D. Döbrössy, Fabian Büchele & Guido Nikkhah

Authors
  1. Máté D. Döbrössy
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  2. Fabian Büchele
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  3. Guido Nikkhah
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Máté D. Döbrössy .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Welsh School of Pharmacology, Cardiff University, Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, United Kingdom

    Emma L. Lane

  2. School of Biosciences, Brain Repair Group, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, United Kingdom

    Stephen B. Dunnett

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Döbrössy, M.D., Büchele, F., Nikkhah, G. (2011). Excitotoxic Lesions of the Rodent Striatum. In: Lane, E., Dunnett, S. (eds) Animal Models of Movement Disorders. Neuromethods, vol 62. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-301-1_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-301-1_2

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-300-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-301-1

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