[Activity of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra following lesions of the neostriatum by kainic acid].

Neostriatal lesions by kainic acid provide a good model for studying Huntington's chorea. The pattern of discharge of nigral dopaminergic neurons of rats subjected to a kainate lesions of the caudate nucleus was compared to the nigral activity in control (saline-injected) and normal rats. The observed changes suggest that neostriatal degeneration does not simply induce a nigral dopaminergic hyperactivity but rather a disorganization of their slow and rhythmic pattern of discharge, thus eliciting in the nigral neurons abnormal messages which may reach the motoneurons and participate in the genesis of choreic movements.