Detection of Dopamine Efflux in the Nucleus Accumbens caused by Electrical Stimulation of the Rat Fornix by Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry

Introduction: Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) has been recently suggested as a potential therapy for improving memory functions in Alzheimer’s Disease, as the improvement of certain memory functions was shown when DBS on fornix, The goal of this study is to investigate the relationship between fornix stimulation and neurochemical change in rat brain.

Methods: We stereotactically implanted carbon fiber microelectrode (CFM) into nucleus accumbens of the rat to measure neurotransmitter changes during DBS of fornix using WINCS based fast scan cyclic voltammetry. DBS was applied with changes of stimulation amplitudes and frequencies under general anesthesia.

Results: Dopamine efflux change was measured in the core of nucleus accumbens, but not in the shell of nucleus accumbens. The dopamine changes became highest at 120Hz stimulating frequency and also get higher when increasing the stimulation amplitude.

Conclusion: In this study, the possible relationship between fornix and nuclueus accumbens was demonstrated with fast scan cyclic voltammetry. The dopamine releases in nucleus accumbens during fornix DBS could be utilized for explain the mechanism of the fornix DBS.