Intrastriatal DNQX induces rotation and pallidal Fos in the 6-OHDA model of Parkinson's disease.

The 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson's disease was combined with intracerebral drug infusions to examine the influence of glutamate receptors on striatal output activity. When infused into the dopamine-denervated striatum, the AMPA-kainate receptor antagonist DNQX dose-dependently elicited contralateral rotation and ipsilateral Fos immunoreactivity (Fos-IR) in the globus pallidus, a target nucleus of striatal output. DNQX did not elicit rotation or Fos-IR in unlesioned or partially lesioned rats. In addition, the NMDA receptor antagonist AP-5 failed to induce rotation and had minimal effects on pallidal Fos-IR in lesioned rats. These results suggest a role for striatal AMPA-kainate receptors in the pathology and treatment of Parkinson's disease.