Neuronal mechanism underlying dystonia induced by bicuculline injection into the putamen of the cat.

Microinjection of bicuculline (Bic) into the unilateral putamen (Put) of the cat resulted in periodic occurrence of contralateral movement of the head (dystonia). Corresponding to this dystonic movement, repetitive spikes of the field potential occurring in the Put of the injected side and strong inhibition of the extracellularly recorded unit discharges in the neurons of the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) of the same side were observed.