Noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation promotes GABA release in the substantia nigra and improves locomotion in hemiparkinsonian rats

Dopamine related disorders usually respond to dopaminergic drugs, but not all symptoms are equally responsive. In Parkinson’s disease (PD) in particular, axial symptoms resulting in impaired gait and postural control are difficult to treat. Stochastic vestibular stimulation (SVS) has been put forward as a method to improve CNS function in dopamine related disorders, but the mechanisms of action are not well understood. This thesis aimed to investigate the effects of SVS on neuronal brain activity and to evaluate the possible enhancing effect of SVS on motor control in PD and on cognitive functions and motor learning in Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Behavioural tests were conducted in the 6-OHDA rat model of PD using the accelerating Rotarod and the Montoya skilled reach test to evaluate the effect of SVS on motor control. The effect of SVS on brain activity was assessed using in vivo microdialysis and immunohistochemistry. We evaluated the effect of SVS on postural control and Parkinsonism in patients with PD and the effect of SVS on cognitive function in people with ADHD. The behavioural animal studies indicate that SVS may have an enhancing effect on locomotion, but not skilled forepaw function. SVS increased GABA transmission in the ipsilesional substantia nigra (SN) and may have a rebalancing effect on dysfunctional brain activity. SVS increased c-Fos activity more than levodopa and saline in the vestibular nucleus of all animals. c-Fos expression was also higher in this region in the 6-OHDA lesioned than in shamlesioned animals, supporting the theory that SVS may have larger effects in the dopamine depleted brain. SVS increased c-Fos expression in the habenula nucleus substantially more than levodopa did. Furthermore, SVS and levodopa had similar effects on many brain regions, including the striatum, where saline had no effect. The clinical studies revealed improvement of postural control in PD during SVS. There was a trend towards reduced Parkinsonism during SVS when off levodopa. No substantial effects were found on cognitive performance in ADHD. In PD, SVS may improve motor control by inhibiting the overactive SN, possibly through a non-dopaminergic modulatory pathway involving increased neurotransmission in the habenula nucleus. SVS could be trialled in larger studies to evaluate long-term effects on treatment resistant axial symptoms associated with PD

The Immunobiology of Tourette's Disorder, Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related conditions including Tourette's disorder (TD) are chronic, relapsing disorders of unknown etiology associated with marked impairment and disability. Associated immune dysfunction has been reported and debated in the literature since the late 80s. The immunologic culprit receiving the most interest has been Group A Streptococcus (GAS), which began to receive attention as a potential cause of neuropsychiatric symptoms, following the investigation of the symptoms reported in Sydenham's chorea (SC) and rheumatic fever, such as motor tics, vocal tics, and both obsessive-compulsive and attention deficit/hyperactivity symptoms. Young children have been described as having a sudden onset of these neuropsychiatric symptoms temporally associated with GAS, but without supporting evidence of rheumatic fever. This presentation of OCD and tics has been termed pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with Streptococcus (PANDAS). Of note, SC, OCD, and TD often begin in early childhood and share common anatomic areas—the basal ganglia of the brain and the related cortical and thalamic sites—adding support to the possibility that these disorders might share a common immunologic and/or genetic vulnerability. Relevant manuscripts were identified through searches of the PsycINFO and MedLine databases using the following keywords: OCD, immune, PANDAS, Sydenham chorea, Tourette's disorder Group A Streptococcus. Articles were also identified through reference lists from research articles and other materials on childhood OCD, PANDAS, and TD between 1966 and December 2010. Considering the overlap of clinical and neuroanatomic findings among these disorders, this review explores evidence regarding the immunobiology as well as the relevant clinical and therapeutic aspects of TD, OCD, and PANDAS