Movement disorders induced by gamma-aminobutyric agonist and antagonist injections into the internal globus pallidus and substantia nigra pars reticulata of the monkey.

Injections of bicuculline into the medial segment of the globus pallidus (GPi) of the monkey induced dose-dependent hypokinesia with dystonic attitudes in contralateral limbs whereas muscimol injections elicited choreiform movements. Injections of the same drugs in substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) provoked severe axial postural anomalies with rotational behavior. Conversely, contralateral hypertonia after bicuculline and contralateral hypotonia after muscimol injections were observed. These data suggest that GABA inputs into GPi and SNr play different roles in terms of motor and postural control and add new insights into the pathophysiology of dystonias.