Effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPTG) of the reticular activating system (RAS) in Parkinson's disease (PD): motor and non motor benefits

Introduction: The human pedunculopontine nucleus (PPTg) is located in the ponto–mesencephalic region delimited by three sensitive pathways; PPTg has two main sub-regions: the pars compacta and the pars dissipata The PPTg presents mainly ACh neurons. Moreover GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons of PPTg receives corticostriatal inputs and projects to structures involved in motor control, such as GPi, SNr and the STN. However, PPTg is not only a locomotor structure and it is a part of RAS. Diffuse ascending cholinergic projections affects rapid-eye-movement and sleep.

http://ift.tt/2Aj9nRB