A partial lesion of the substantia nigra pars compacta and retrorubral field decreases the harmaline-induced glutamate release in the rat cerebellum.

The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of a partial lesion of both the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC) and retrorubral field (RRF) on the glutamatergic transmission in the cerebellum and tremor induced by harmaline in rats. 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 8μg/2μl) was injected unilaterally into the region of the posterior part of the SNC and RRF. Harmaline was administered in a dose of 30mg/kg ip on the 8th day after the operation and the extracellular level of glutamate was measured by microdialysis in vivo in the cerebellar vermis.