Assessing Respiratory Changes Induced by STN-DBS in a Rat Model

Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) is a technique used to treat motor symptoms of movement disorders including Parkinson's Disease (PD), a neurogenerative disorder caused by the progressive loss of striatal dopamine in the brain that leads to tremors, rigidity, and postural instability. Despite its therapeutic effects, DBS is still known to cause some non-motor symptoms including breathlessness due to unknown reasons in PD patients. In this paper, the changes in breathing rates were evaluated from peak detection for 20 trials in the time domain for the preliminary data obtained from a rat model after the application of DBS on the STN for frequencies 10Hz and 130Hz with stimulation intensities of 150 µA and 450 µA. Results revealed a significant change in breathing rates for all intensities and corresponding frequencies, confirming that the degree of disruption in breathing rate may depend on the stimulation frequency. The study may further suggest potential neuronal networks that mediate these changes.