Abstract: ObjectiveTo study the therapeutic effects of cerebellar fastigial nucleus electrical stimulation (FNS) on motor and depression symptoms and monoamine neurotransmitters in the spinal cord fluid of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).Methods65 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease following depression were divided into stimulation group (FNS+Madopar, n=35) and control group (Madopar, n=30). The stimulation group took Modopar, and treated with FNS, 30 miniutes once a day for 30 days. The control group took Modopar only. Madopar dose has no change during the treatment. The patients were evaluated by Webster Parkinson's Disease Evaluation Form, and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) before and after FNS treatment. The loading of monoamine neurotransmitters was measured by high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical process.ResultsAfter the treatment, the stimulation group improved in clinical feature and depression, scored significantly lower on Webster and HAMD than the control group(P<0.05); the loading of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) in spinal cord fluid increased; however noradrenalin and dopamine had no different. But there was no significant change in the symptoms and the loading of monoamine neurotransmitters in the control group.ConclusionFNS is efficient to relieve the motor and depression symptoms of PD, which possible mechamism might be central neuroprotection and the release of 5-HT by FNS induction.

Key words: Parkinson's disease, cerebellar fastigial nucleus, monoamine neurotransmitter