Bilateral ablation of the corticostriatal projection: behavioral, biochemical and electrophysiological correlates

Striatal neuronal responses to dexamphetamine, 2.5 mg/kg i.p., were examined in normal and bilateral cortically ablated freely moving rats using multiunit recording. Striatal glutamate levels, D1 and D2 receptor binding, and haloperidal catalepsy were examined in both sham-operated and ablated animals. Bilateral ablation of the cortex, while not affecting dexamphetamine-induced behavioral activation, changed the striatal neuronal response from predominantly excitation to inhibition. Striatal glutamate levels were reduced 22% in ablated animals; and dopamine D-2 receptor binding sites were similarly decreased by 20%. In bilaterally ablated animals, haloperidol-induced catalepsy was greatly reduced.