Altered succinate dehydrogenase activity of basal ganglia following to mesotelencephalic dopaminergic projection.

Unilateral damage to the mesotelencephalic dopamine-containing projection of rats by intracerebral 6-hydroxydopamine injection, alters the staining of the tricarboxylic acid cycle enzyme succinate dehydrogenase in the basal ganglia. Relative to the intact hemisphere, the neostriatum ipsilateral to the damage shows diminished enzyme staining, while the ipsilateral globus pallidus, entopeduncular nucleus and substantia nigra pars reticulata all show enhanced deposition of reaction product. These asymmetries are detectable in some animals by 3 days after surgery and increase in magnitude at longer postoperative survival times. The alterations in succinate dehydrogenase staining appear to be related to the severity of the sensorimotor impairments resulting from the injury.