Involvement of inducible nitric oxide synthase in inflammation-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration

The loss of dopaminergic neurones in the substantia nigra with Parkinson's disease may result from inflammation-induced proliferation of microglia and reactive macrophages expressing inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). We have investigated the effects of the supranigral administration of lipopolysaccharide on iNOS-immunoreactivity, 3-nitrotyrosine formation and tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neuronal number, and retrogradely labelled fluorogold-positive neurones in the ventral mesencephalon in male Wistar rats. Following supranigral lipopolysaccharide injection, 16-18 h previously, there was intense expression of NADPH-diaphorase and iNOS-immunoreactivity in non-neuronal, macrophage-like cells. This was accompanied by intense expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein-immunoreactive astrocytosis in the substantia nigra. There were also significant reductions in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase(50-60%)- and fluorogold (65-75%)-positive neurones in the substantia nigra. In contrast, tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactivity in the ventral tegmental area was not altered. Pre-treatment of animals with the iNOS inhibitor, S-methylisothiourea (10 mg kg(-1), i.p.), led to a significant reduction of lipopolysaccharide-induced cell death. Similar reduction of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactivity and fluorogold-labelled neurones in the substantia nigra following lipopolysaccharide administration suggests dopaminergic cell death rather than down-regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase. We conclude that the expression of iNOS- and 3-nitrotyrosine-immunoreactivity and reduction of cell death by S-methylisothiourea suggest the effects of lipopolysaccharide may be nitric oxide-mediated, although other actions of lipopolysaccharide (independent of iNOS induction) cannot be ruled out.     

Pomegranate juice exacerbates oxidative stress and nigrostriatal degeneration in Parkinson's disease

Numerous factors contribute to the death of substantia nigra (SN) dopamine (DA) neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD). Compelling evidence implicates mitochondrial deficiency, oxidative stress, and inflammation as important pathogenic factors in PD. Chronic exposure of rats to rotenone causes a PD-like syndrome, in part by causing oxidative damage and inflammation in substantia nigra. Pomegranate juice (PJ) has the greatest composite antioxidant potency index among beverages, and it has been demonstrated to have protective effects in a transgenic model of Alzheimer's disease. The present study was designed to examine the potential neuroprotective effects of PJ in the rotenone model of PD. Oral administration of PJ did not mitigate or prevent experimental PD but instead increased nigrostriatal terminal depletion, DA neuron loss, the inflammatory response, and caspase activation, thereby heightening neurodegeneration. The mechanisms underlying this effect are uncertain, but the finding that PJ per se enhanced nitrotyrosine, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and activated caspase-3 expression in nigral DA neurons is consistent with its potential pro-oxidant activity.     

Brain dysfunction associated with an induction of nitric oxide synthase following an intracerebral injection of lipopolysaccharide in rats

We investigated the pathophysiological role of nitric oxide synthesized by inducible nitric oxide synthase in the brain, by injecting lipopolysaccharide directly into the rat cerebral cortex/hippocampus. The levels of nitric oxide metabolites, nitrite and nitrate, began to increase in a dose-dependent manner with a 3-h lag, and reached approximately seven-fold the basal levels 8 h after the direct injection of lipopolysaccharide (5 microg). The lipopolysaccharide-induced increase in nitrite and nitrate levels was inhibited by treatment with the specific inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor aminoguanidine. The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide delayed the onset of the increase in nitric oxide metabolite levels, and reduced the peak levels. Lipopolysaccharide increased Ca2+-independent, but not Ca2+-dependent, nitric oxide synthase activity in the brain. Intense nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase activity was observed in round cells in the vicinity of the site of injection of lipopolysaccharide 8 h after the injection. Neuronal death was observed seven days after the injection of lipopolysaccharide. Spatial memory, as assessed by performance in a water maze task and spontaneous alternation behavior in a Y-maze, was significantly impaired in rats which had had previous bilateral injections of lipopolysaccharide into the hippocampus. The lipopolysaccharide-induced neuronal death and spatial memory impairments were prevented by aminoguanidine. These results suggest that direct injection of lipopolysaccharide into the brain causes an induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase in vivo. Furthermore, it is suggested that nitric oxide produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase is responsible for the lipopolysaccharide-induced brain dysfunction.     

Naloxone prevents microglia-induced degeneration of dopaminergic substantia nigra neurons in adult rats

Resident microglia are involved in immune responses of the central nervous system and may contribute to neuronal degeneration and death. Here, we tested in adult rats whether injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (which causes inflammation and microglial activation) just above the substantia nigra, results in the death of dopaminergic substantia nigra pars compacta neurons. Two weeks after lipopolysaccharide injection, microglial activation was evident throughout the nigra and the number of retrogradely-labeled substantia nigra neurons was reduced to 66% of normal. This suggests that inflammation and/or microglial activation can lead to neuronal cell death in a well-defined adult animal model. The opioid receptor antagonist naloxone reportedly reduces release of cytotoxic substances from microglia and protects cortical neurons in vitro. Here, a continuous two-week infusion of naloxone at a micromolar concentration close to the substantia nigra, prevented most of the neuronal death caused by lipopolysaccharide, i.e. 85% of the neurons survived. In addition, with systemic (subcutaneous) infusion of 0. 1mg/d naloxone, 94% of the neurons survived. Naloxone infusions did not obviously affect the morphological signs of microglial activation, suggesting that naloxone reduces the release of microglial-derived cytotoxic substances. Alternatively, microglia might not cause the neuronal loss, or naloxone might act by blocking opioid receptors on (dopaminergic or GABAergic) neurons.Thus, local inflammation induces and the opioid antagonist naloxone prevents the death of dopaminergic substantia nigra neurons in adult rats. This may be relevant to the understanding of the pathology and treatment of Parkinson's disease, where these neurons degenerate.     

Alterations of the expression and activity of midbrain nitric oxide synthase and soluble guanylyl cyclase in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced Parkinsonism in mice

The study was aimed at investigating the expression and the activity of neuronal nitric oxide synthase, and of soluble guanylyl cyclase and phosphodiesterase activities that regulate guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate level in the midbrain, in a mouse model of PD using 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine injections. Adult male mice of the C57/BL strain were given three i.p. injections of physiological saline or three i.p. injections of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine solution in physiological saline at 2 h intervals (summary 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine dose: 40 mg/kg), and were killed 3, 7, or 14 days later. mRNA, protein level, and/or activities of neuronal nitric oxide synthase, soluble guanylyl cyclase, phosphodiesterase and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate were determined. Immunohistochemistry showed about 75% decrease in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Mice treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine showed increased midbrain guanylyl cyclase and total nitric oxide synthase activities at 3, 7, and 14 days post-treatment. The specific neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 7-nitroindazole (10 microM) and the specific inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 1400W (10 microM) inhibited the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced excess in nitric oxide synthase activity by 63-70 and 13-25%, respectively. The increases in total midbrain nitric oxide synthase activity were accompanied by elevated guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, enhanced expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and of the beta1 subunit of guanylyl cyclase at both mRNA and protein levels that persisted up to the end of the observation period, and by enhanced neuronal nitric oxide synthase and guanylyl cyclase beta1 immunoreactivities in substantia nigra pars compacta 7 and 14 days after the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine treatment. The increases in guanylyl cyclase activity were found to occur exclusively due to increased maximal enzyme activity. No 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced change in phosphodiesterase activity has been detected in any brain region studied. 7-Nitroindazole prevented a significant increase in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced midbrain guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate level and neurodegeneration of dopaminergic neurons. These results raise the possibility that the nitric oxide/guanylyl cyclase/guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate signaling pathway may play a role in maintaining dopaminergic neurons function in substantia nigra pars compacta.     

Aging enhances the neuroinflammatory response and alpha-synuclein nitration in rats

The Lewy body is a pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease. It has been revealed that the Lewy body contains nitrated alpha-synuclein which is prone to oligomerization. We tested the hypothesis that aging may enhance nitration of alpha-synuclein due to an exaggerated neuroinflammatory reaction such as an excessive induction of the inducible nitric oxide synthase, which occurs post-intrapallidal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. Here, we show microglia activation and proinflammatory cytokine expression are more evident in the substantia nigra of elderly rats following intrapallidal LPS. In addition, greater nitration of proteins like alpha-synuclein occurs in the substantia nigra of 16-month-old rats versus 3-month-old rats, which is accompanied by a higher expression level of inducible nitric oxide synthase. These results imply that an exaggerated neuroinflammatory response that occurs with aging might be involved in the increase in prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease.     

尼古丁对PD大鼠黑质多巴胺能神经元变性的影响

目的 探讨尼古丁对帕金森病(PD)大鼠黑质多巴胺能神经元变性的影响及其机制. 方法 45只大鼠随机分为PBS对照组(CON)、生理盐水+ 脂多糖(NS)组、尼古丁+脂多糖(NIC)组,每组15只.黑质内立体定向注射脂多糖(LPS)或PBS后24h,免疫印迹法检测黑质诱导性一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)蛋白表达变化;黑质注射药物后14d,采用免疫组织化学法观察大鼠黑质酪氨酸羟化酶(TH)阳性神经元数量及OX-42阳性细胞形态学变化,RT-PCR及免疫印迹检测黑质TH mRNA及TH蛋白的表达水平. 结果 与CON组相比,NS组大鼠黑质iNOS表达明显增多,TH阳性神经元、TH mRNA及TH蛋白明显减少,小胶质细胞大多呈胞体大突起短粗的形态;NIC组黑质iNOS表达明显少于NS组,黑质TH阳性神经元、TH mRNA及TH蛋白表达较NS组明显增多,大部分小胶质细胞呈胞体小,突起细长的形态. 结论 尼古丁可以减轻LPS介导的多巴胺能神经元变性,对多巴胺能神经元有保护作用,其保护机制与抑制小胶质细胞激活、减少iNOS的表达有关.     

Intrapallidal lipopolysaccharide injection increases iron and ferritin levels in glia of the rat substantia nigra and induces locomotor deficits

Increasing evidence suggests that abnormal iron handling may be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. The present study investigates the role of iron and the iron-storage protein ferritin in inflammation-induced degeneration of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta. Injection of lipopolysaccharide into the globus pallidus of young and middle-aged rats substantially decreased tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining in substantia nigra pars compacta four weeks after injection. Loss of tyrosine hydroxylase expression was accompanied by increased iron and ferritin levels in glial cells of the substantia nigra pars reticulata. Despite greater increases in nigral iron levels, ferritin induction was less pronounced in older rats, suggesting the regulation of ferritin was compromised with age. Automated movement tracking analyses showed that young rats recovered from LPS-induced locomotor deficits within four weeks, yet older rats failed to improve on measures of speed and total distance moved. Intrapallidal lipopolysaccharide injection also increased expression of alpha-synuclein and ubiquitin in tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta. These results suggest that pallidal inflammation significantly increases stress on dopamine-containing neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Alterations in nigral iron levels and protein handing may increase the vulnerability of nigral neurons to degenerative processes.     

Oxidative damage in substantia nigra and striatum of rats chronically exposed to ozone

The purpose of this work was to study if chronic low-dose ozone exposure could per se induce oxidative damage to neurons of striatum and substantia nigra. Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into three groups--Group 1: exposed to an air stream free of ozone; Group 2: exposed for 15 days to ozone; Group 3: exposed for 30 days to ozone. Ozone exposure was carried out daily for 4 h at a 0.25 ppm dose. Each group was then tested for (1) motor activity, (2) quantification of lipid peroxidation levels, (3) Klüver-Barrera staining, and (4) immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine and adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-regulated phosphoprotein of 32 kD (DARPP-32), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), to study neuronal alterations in striatum and substantia nigra. Results indicate that ozone exposure causes a significant decrease in motor activity. Ozone produced lipid peroxidation, morphological alterations, loss of fibers and cell death of the dopaminergic neurons. The DARPP-32, iNOS and SOD expression increased with repetitive ozone exposure. These alterations suggest that ozone causes oxidative stress which induces oxidative damage to substantia nigra and striatum of the rat.     

黑质内炎症反应对恒河猴多巴胺能神经元的毒性作用

目的 后存活24周、48周和生理盐水注射后存活48周.上述5只动物于存活前0周、8周、16周,向右侧黑质分3次注射脂多糖或生理盐水.术后用免疫组织化学染色及高效液相色谱法观察黑质TH阳性神经元的变化和纹状体神经递质含量的改变. 结果 急性实验组注射侧与对照侧TH表达量无明显差异,但注射侧可见小胶质细胞活化,人类白细胞DR抗原表达量上调并有大量肿瘤坏死因子α、白介素1β、环氧化酶2(COX-2)生成.慢性实验组单侧黑质脂多糖注射24周和48周后,各个动物注射侧黑质阳性神经元数量以及纹状体神经递质含量有不同程度的减少,而生理盐水注射动物无变化. 结论 脂多糖注射后在1周内可引起黑质剧烈的炎症反应,但这种病理过程并不伴随大量多巴胺能神经元死亡.随病程的发展,炎症反应能引起恒河猴黑质多巴胺能神经元慢性进行性的损伤.该病理过程较好模拟了帕金森病的发病特点.     

Interleukin-10 protects against inflammation-mediated degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra

Inflammation has been increasingly recognized to play an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Using immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy, we found that intranigral injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) caused marked microglial activation and a dose-dependent selective loss of dopaminergic neurons, which was mediated by apoptosis as evidenced by prominent TUNEL labeling. RNase protection assays revealed that mRNA for Bax, Fas and the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were significant increased ipsilaterally in LPS-injected side of SN, while expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 was decreased. Osmotic pump infusion of IL-10, a global inhibitor of cytokine synthesis, protected against LPS-induced cell death of dopaminergic neurons, with a corresponding decrease in the number of activated microglia, suggesting that the reduction in microglia-mediated release of inflammatory mediators may contribute to the anti-inflammatory effect of IL-10. Our results provide evidence that LPS induces apoptotic cell death in SNpc, which is likely through the expression of Fas, Bax, caspase-3, and the pro-inflammatory cytokines.     

Involvement of Src-Suppressed C Kinase Substrate in Neuronal Death Caused by the Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Reactive Astrogliosis

Src-suppressed C kinase substrate (SSeCKS), a protein kinase C substrate, is a major lipopolysaccharide (LPS) response protein, regulating the inflammatory process. In the process of spinal inflammatory diseases by LPS intraspinal injection, expression of SSeCKS in the spinal cord was increased, mainly in active astrocytes and neurons. Induced SSeCKS was colabeled with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated-dUTP nick-end labeling (an apoptosis maker) in the late inflammation processes. These results indicated that SSeCKS might correlate with the inflammatory reaction and late neurodegeneration after LPS injection. A cell type-specific action for SSeCKS was further studied within C6 cells and PC12 cells. Knockdown of SSeCKS by small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) blocked the LPS-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in C6 cells, while overexpression SSeCKS enhanced iNOS expression. SSeCKS is also participated in regulation of PC12 cell viability. Loss of SSeCKS rescued PC12 cell viability, and excessive SSeCKS exacerbated the cell death upon conditioned medium and tumor necrosis factor-alpha exposure. This study delineates that SSeCKS may be important for host defenses in spinal inflammation and suggests a valuable molecular mechanism by which astrocytes modify neuronal viability during pathological states.     

Stimulation of production of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and nitric oxide by lipopolysaccharide with different dose-responsiveness in cultured rat macrophages

To understand the molecular basis of inflammation-induced neurotrophic influences, we investigated the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on production of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the injured rat spinal cord or in cultured rat macrophages in comparison with the effects on synthesis/secretion of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitric oxide (NO). We found that GDNF mRNA expression lasted longer than that of iNOS mRNA in the injured spinal cord after injection of the high-dose LPS that had improved locomotor function, suggesting that the GDNF expression and its balance with NO generation were critical for injury regeneration. Therefore, we next investigated the effects of LPS on cultured macrophages. Levels of iNOS mRNA and secreted NO were enhanced by LPS at lower concentrations (10 ng/mL and above), whereas mRNA expression and secretion of GDNF were elevated only at higher concentrations (100 ng/mL and above). The culture medium of macrophages treated with 10 ng/mL of LPS was actually neurotoxic against cultured cortical neurons, whereas that conditioned at 1000 ng/mL was not. These observations suggest that neurotoxicity partly based on NO is induced by a lower degree of inflammation, whereas neurotrophic effects based on GDNF are manifested at a higher degree of inflammatory activity.     

小胶质细胞介导帕金森病小鼠的氧化应激损伤

背景：研究证实,小胶质细胞诱导型一氧化氮合酶可增加多巴胺能神经元对百草枯的摄取,造成百草枯对多巴胺能神经元的特异性杀伤作用。帕金森病的黑质纹状体存在小胶质细胞的激活,但其产生氧化应激作用机制尚不明确。 目的：建立帕金森病小鼠模型,观察小胶质细胞介导的氧化应激损伤在帕金森病中的作用。 方法：36只C57BL/6小鼠随机分为帕金森病模型组和对照组,每组18只。以腹腔注射百草枯10 mg/kg为模型组,等体积生理盐水为对照组,分别观察小鼠行为活动改变。采用高效液相法测定两组小鼠黑质纹状体多巴胺的含量及免疫组织化学方法检测两组小鼠黑质部位酪氨酸羟化酶、mac-1蛋白表达,同时应用化学比色法测定两组小鼠黑质部位超氧化物歧化酶、还原性谷胱甘肽、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性和丙二醛水平的变化。 结果与结论：模型组小鼠自发行为活动较对照组减少(P < 0.05)。高效液相法检测模型组小鼠黑质纹状体多巴胺含量及酪氨酸羟化酶蛋白的表达均显著低于对照组(P < 0.05),mac-1蛋白表达高于对照组(P < 0.05)。模型组超氧化物歧化酶、还原性谷胱甘肽、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性较对照组均显著下降(P < 0.05),丙二醛水平较对照组显著升高(P < 0.05)。提示中脑黑质部位小胶质细胞的激活致使氧化应激反应增强及抗氧化保护作用减弱可能是引起帕金森病发病的重要机制。     

Protective effect of glutathione against lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation and mortality in rats

Objective To investigate protective effect of glutathione (GSH) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and mortality in rats. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally (i. p.) with GSH (40 mg/kg) 30 min prior to LPS injection (20 mg/kg). Animal survival rate and the production of nitric oxide in serum were measured. Morphology of lung was observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Western blotting was used to assess the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the phosphorylation of p38 in rat peritoneal macrophages. Results GSH significantly decreased LPS-induced mortality, inhibited serum NO production and eliminated lung histological injury. Furthermore, GSH inhibited the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins and the phosphorylation of p38 in LPS-stimulated rat peritoneal macrophages. Conclusions These results indicated that GSH suppressed LPS-induced systemic inflammatory response in rats and p38 MAPK signal pathway was involved in this process. Received 20 March 2006; returned for revision 21 May 2006; returned for final revision 11 June 2006; accepted by M. Katori 7 July 2006     

p38MAPK通路参与亚急性帕金森病模型小鼠黑质iNOS表达的调控

目的:研究1-甲基-4-苯基-1,2,3,6-四氢吡啶(MPTP)所致Parkinson病(PD)小鼠模型黑质p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(mitogen-activated protein kinase,MAPK)通路对诱导型一氧化氮合酶(inducible nitric oxide,iN-OS)、半胱氨酸蛋白酶-3(caspase-3)的表达调控,以探讨PD多巴胺能神经元丢失的可能机制。方法:采用MPTP制备PD小鼠模型,观察行为学变化;采用免疫组化和免疫蛋白印迹法,观察黑质区酪氨酸羟化酶(tyrosine hydroxylase,TH)、iNOS、caspase-3和磷酸化p38MAPK(p-p38MAPK)阳性细胞数和蛋白表达水平变化及给予p38MAPK特异性抑制剂SB203580后对上述变化的影响。结果:模型II组TH阳性神经元明显丢失,小鼠出现典型的PD样行为学表现;模型I组小鼠黑质区p-p38MAPK、iNOS、caspase-3阳性细胞数及蛋白水平显著增加。经SB203580处理后,上述变化明显减轻(P0.01)。结论:p38MAPK通路对PD模型小鼠黑质区细胞凋亡可能起重要的调控作用,抑制该通路具有一定神经保护作用。     

Luteolin protects dopaminergic neurons from inflammation-induced injury through inhibition of microglial activation

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Accumulating evidence has suggested that inflammation in the brain participates in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Luteolin, a polyphenolic compound found in foods of plant origin, belongs to the flavone subclass of flavonoids, and has been shown to possess antimutagenic, antitumorigenic, antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. In this study, we found that luteolin concentration-dependently attenuated the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced decrease in [(3)H]dopamine uptake and loss of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons in primary mesencephalic neuron-glia cultures. Moreover, luteolin also significantly inhibited LPS-induced activation of microglia and excessive production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, nitric oxide and superoxide in mesencephalic neuron-glia cultures and microglia-enriched cultures. Our results demonstrate that luteolin may protect dopaminergic neurons from LPS-induced injury and its efficiency in inhibiting microglia activation may underlie the mechanism.     

Involvement of the nigral output pathways in the inhibitory control of the substantia nigra over generalized non-convulsive seizures in the rat

Activation of GABAergic transmission within the substantia nigra has been shown to suppress several forms of generalized seizures in experimental models of epilepsy. More especially, such pharmacological manipulations suppress spontaneous and chemically-induced generalized non-convulsive seizures in the rat. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of the dopaminergic and GABAergic thalamic and collicular nigral outputs in this antiepileptic effect. For this purpose, we examined the effects of output destruction on the antiepileptic effect of intranigral injections of a GABA agonist or pharmacological blockade of the neurotransmission at the nerve terminal level in rats with spontaneous absence seizures. After selective destruction of dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra with 6-hydroxydopamine (5 micrograms/side) or hemisection of the ascending nigral output, bilateral intranigral injection of muscimol (2 ng/side) still significantly suppressed generalized non-convulsive seizures. Bilateral lesioning of the ventromedial nucleus of the thalamus did not abolish the antiepileptic effects of intranigral muscimol (2 ng/side) and the GABA antagonist, picrotoxin, when given into this thalamic nucleus (10 ng/side) also failed to induce suppression of spike and wave discharges. The antiepileptic effects of intranigral injection of muscimol (2 ng/side) was reversed by bilateral electrolytic lesions of the superior colliculus. Blockade of the GABAergic transmission at this level with picrotoxin (40 ng/side) significantly suppressed generalized non-convulsive seizures. Finally, excitation of collicular cell bodies with low doses of kainic acid (4 and 8 ng/side) also resulted in a suppression of spike and wave discharges. These results demonstrate that the GABAergic nigrocollicular pathway is critical for the inhibitory control of the substantia nigra over generalized non-convulsive seizures. The data further suggest that antiepileptic effects observed following potentiation of GABAergic transmission in the substantia nigra result from a disinhibition of collicular cell bodies.