The 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) model has been used for decades to advance the understanding of Parkinson's Disease. In this protocol, we demonstrate how to perform unilateral nigrostriatal lesions in the rat by injecting 6-OHDA in the medial forebrain bundle, assess motor deficits, and predict lesions using the stepping test.
Guimarães, R. P., Ribeiro, D. L., dos Santos, K. B., Godoy, L. D., Corrêa, M. R., Padovan-Neto, F. E. The 6-hydroxydopamine Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease. J. Vis. Exp. (176), e62923, doi:10.3791/62923 (2021).