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6-Hydroxydopamine lesion of the rat prefrontal cortex impairs motor initiation but not motor execution

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Abstract

We examined the effects of bilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions of the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) in rats on motor initiation and execution in a simple reaction time task. Reaction times (RT) and movement times (MT) were measured in trained rats on four preand postoperative days. Animals with 6-OHDA lesions were selectively impaired on motor initiation as measured by a significant increase in RT on each postoperative day. Motor execution was intact postoperatively, since MT was not altered. Neurochemical analysis revealed a significant depletion of prefrontal dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) in lesioned animals. It was concluded that DA and, to a lesser extent, NA in the rat PFC were involved in monitoring RT performance.

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Author notes

  1. M. Bubser

    Present address: Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Meibergdreef 33, 1105, Z0, AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Physiology, Biological Institute, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, D-70550, Stuttgart, Germany

    W. Hauber

  2. Department of Neuropharmacology, Zoological Institute, University of Tübingen, Mohlstr. 54/1, D-72074, Tübingen, Germany

    M. Bubser & W. J. Schmidt

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  2. M. Bubser
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Hauber, W., Bubser, M. & Schmidt, W.J. 6-Hydroxydopamine lesion of the rat prefrontal cortex impairs motor initiation but not motor execution. Exp Brain Res 99, 524–528 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00228988

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00228988

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