Changes in choline acetyltransferase, glutamic acid decarboxylase, high-affinity glutamate uptake and dopaminergic activity induced by kainic acid lesion of the thalamostriatal neurons.

Kainic acid lesion of the 'centre médian'-parafascicular complex of the thalamus inducing a degeneration of the thalamostriatal neurons was followed by a decrease in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the rostral part of the striatum in the rat. This decrease in ChAT was concomitant with an increase in glutamate decarboxylase, high-affinity glutamate uptake and apparent dopamine turnover. These results suggest that the thalamostriatal partly cholinergic input exerts a powerful control over GABAergic, glutamatergic and dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia.