Effect of STN DBS on vesicular monoamine transporter 2 and glucose metabolism in Parkinson's disease

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment for Parkinson's Disease (PD). Despite the improvement of motor symptoms in most patients by sub-thalamic nucleus (STN) DBS and its widespread use, the neurobiological mechanisms are not completely understood. The objective of the present study was to elucidate the effects of subthalamic nucleus (STN) DBS in PD on the dopamine system and neural circuitry, employing high-resolution positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The hypotheses tested were that STN DBS would decrease the striatal vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT2), secondary to an increase in dopamine concentrations, and would decrease striatal cerebral metabolism and increase cortical cerebral metabolism. PET imaging of the vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT2) and cerebral glucose metabolism was performed prior to DBS surgery and after 4–6 months of STN stimulation in seven PD patients (mean age 67 ± 7). The patients demonstrated significant improvement in motor and neuropsychiatric symptoms after STN DBS. Decreased VMAT2 was observed in the caudate, putamen and associative striatum and in extra-striatal, cortical and limbic regions. Cerebral glucose metabolism was decreased in striatal sub-regions and increased in temporal and parietal cortices and the cerebellum. Decreased striatal VMAT2 was correlated with decreased striatal and increased cortical and limbic metabolism. Improvement of depressive symptoms was correlated with decreased VMAT2 in striatal and extra-striatal regions and with striatal decreases and cortical increases in metabolism. The present results support further investigation of the role of VMAT2, and associated changes in neural circuitry in the improvement of motor and non-motor symptoms with STN DBS in PD. •Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a treatment for Parkinson's disease.•STN DBS decreased striatal VMAT2 availability, which may reflect increased intra-vesicular dopamine.•STN DBS decreased subcortical and increased posterior cortical metabolism.•Decreased striatal VMAT2 availability was correlated with cortical increases in metabolism, as well as improvement of motor function and depression.•Increased vesicular dopamine and changes in neural circuitry by STN DBS may be associated with motor and non-motor symptom improvement in PD.