Unilateral damage to the entopeduncular nucleus causes forelimb motor dysfunction in rats

BackgroundThe entopeduncular nucleus (EP), corresponding to the human globus pallidus internal segment, is a basal ganglia output nucleus, and plays a critical role in motor control. However, the impact of EP damage on skilled motor function and the relationship between its damage in stroke, such as internal capsule hemorrhage (ICH), and motor dysfunction remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify whether EP damage causes motor dysfunction in two disease models. MethodsEP-related motor dysfunction was investigated by inducing localized unilateral EP damage in Long-Evans rats using a stereotactic kainic acid (KA) injection. Motor function was assessed using a single-pellet reaching task pre-injection and on postoperative days 2, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Immunohistochemical staining for NeuN, somatostatin (SST), and parvalbumin was conducted to quantify damage and its correlation with motor outcomes. In addition, unilateral ICH was induced via stereotactic injection of collagenase type IV, which dissolves the vascular basement membrane, into the internal capsule (IC) of Long-Evans rats. Injury sites were classified into the IC, dorsomedial region from the IC, ventral lateral region from the IC, and EP, and their volumes were measured. Measured volumes were analyzed for correlations with motor function assessments. ResultsKA-induced EP damage significantly reduced reaching success rates on postoperative day 2 compared to those in the control group (p<0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis showed that reaching success rates on day 28 positively correlated with the numbers of remaining NeuN-positive and SST-positive neurons (p<0.05). In the ICH experiment, all rats significantly reduced the success rate of the reaching task to 0% on day 2, and the success rate on day 28 correlated positively with the remaining EP volume, but not with total lesion volume. ConclusionsEP damage was strongly associated with motor impairments, highlighting its critical role in motor control and recovery.