Objective

To investigate the effects on the blink reflex (BR) of single stimuli applied to the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg).

Methods

The BR was evoked by stimulating the supraorbital nerve (SON) in fifteen patients suffering from idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) who had electrodes monolaterally or bilaterally implanted in the PPTg for deep brain stimulation (DBS). Single stimuli were delivered to the PPTg through externalized electrode connection wires 3–4 days following PPTg implantation.

Results

PPTg stimuli increased the latency and reduced duration, amplitude and area of the R2 component of the BR in comparison to the response recorded in the absence of PPTg stimulation. These effects were independent of the side of SON stimulation and were stable for interstimulus interval (ISI) between PPTg prepulse and SON stimulus from 0 to 110 ms. The PPTg-induced prepulse inhibition of the BR was bilaterally present in the brainstem. The R1 component was unaffected.

Conclusions

The prepulse inhibition of the R2 component may be modulated by the PPTg.

Significance

These findings suggest that abnormalities of BR occurring in PD may be ascribed to a reduction of basal ganglia-mediated inhibition of brainstem excitability.

中文翻译：

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脑桥脑桥被盖核诱发的帕金森病眨眼反射的前脉冲抑制

客观的

研究施加于脚桥被盖核 (PPTg) 的单一刺激对眨眼反射 (BR) 的影响。

方法

BR 是通过刺激 15 名患有特发性帕金森病 (PD) 的患者的眶上神经 (SON) 诱发的，这些患者在 PPTg 中单侧或双侧植入电极用于深部脑刺激 (DBS)。在 PPTg 植入后 3-4 天，通过外化电极连接线将单个刺激传递到 PPTg。

结果

与在没有 PPTg 刺激的情况下记录的响应相比，PPTg 刺激增加了 BR 的 R2 成分的潜伏期和减少的持续时间、幅度和面积。这些效应独立于 SON 刺激的一侧，并且对于 PPTg 前脉冲和 SON 刺激之间的刺激间间隔 (ISI) 是稳定的，从 0 到 110 ms。PPTg 诱导的 BR 前脉冲抑制在脑干中存在双侧。R1 组件不受影响。

结论

R2 组件的预脉冲抑制可以通过 PPTg 进行调制。

意义

这些发现表明 PD 中 BR 的异常可能归因于基底神经节介导的脑干兴奋性抑制的减少。