Effect of subthalamic nucleus lesions in a 6-hydroxydopamine-induced rat parkinsonian model: behavioral and biochemical studies
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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

The 6-hydroxydopamine Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease
Published on: October 27, 2021
Yong Sup Hwang1, Insop Shim, Bom Bee Lee
1Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science & Brain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Object:
The purpose of this study was to determine whether subthalamic nucleus (STN) ablation caused by kainic acid can restore dopaminergic neurotransmission and improve motor deficits in a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced hemiparkinsonian model.
Methods:
The authors investigated behavioral changes in rats displaying parkinsonian symptoms (6-OHDA-lesioned rats) after an STN lesion was created using kainic acid. They also measured levels of dopamine and its metabolites following tissue dissection. The results of this study showed that STN ablation led to behavioral improvement in parkinsonian motor deficits. Increased levels of dopamine were also observed in the striatum and globus pallidus externus (GPE).
Conclusions:
The results indicate that creation of an STN lesion in this hemiparkinsonian rat model may counteract some of the neurochemical changes within the striatum and GPE caused by the 6-OHDA, and influence striatal dopaminergic metabolism.
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