The electrophysiological properties of substantia nigra pars compacta neurones recorded from 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned guinea-pigs in vitro.

Intracellular recordings were made from substantia nigra pars compacta neurones in vitro from animals with partial unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the nigrostriatal tract. Lesions were assessed and grouped according to the severity of the striatal dopamine depletion. No differences were seen between neurones from control and lesioned side nigrae as regards their membrane properties, firing rates, burst activity or percentage of quiescent neurones in any of the lesioned categories. It is concluded that following partial lesioning, the remaining substantia nigra zona compacta neurones in vitro, are functioning normally.