ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the modulatory effect of subthalamic nucleus (STN) on activity of motor cortex during exhausting exercise.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Electrocorticogram (ECoG) and local field potentials (LFPs) recording techniques were applied simultaneously to observe the dynamic changes of oscillations in sensorimotor area and STN of rat during exhausting exercise.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Rats ran well initiatively with treadmill at the beginning of the exercise, about 45 min (45 +/- 11.5) later, movement capacity reduced. Corresponding electrical property showed that STN activity increased significantly while activity of cortex decreased significantly. Subsequently rats continued exercise with minor external stimulation utill exhaustion. Activity of ECoG reached the minimum under exhausting stations (P < 0.01), while the activity of LFPs changed insignificantly (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>During the exhausting exercise, the cortex activity was extensively depressed with the development of fatigue, while the activity of STN increased significantly at the early stage of fatigue, STN took part in the modulation of central fatigue through negative induction. And the increase of STN activity may be one of the key measures accounting for protective inhibition.</p>