Repetitive Trans-Spinal Magnetic Stimulation Improves the Function of the Injured Spinal Cord in Rats

Abstract

Studies have found that magnetic stimulation (MS) can induce the plasticity of the spinal cord and promote axon regeneration, resulting in improving motor dysfunction after SCI. However, In the clinical application of repetitive trans-spinal magnetic stimulation (rTSMS), there is no uniform standard for the formulation of treatment parameters, the most important of which is the treatment frequency. This progress has been compared in six groups of animals. After rTSMS, the BBB score and the inclined plate test score of SCI rats increased significantly. Besides, the frequency of 1 Hz significantly increased spinal cord function in the acute and subacute phases after SCI, and the frequency of 15 Hz increased spinal function in the intermediate and chronic phases after SCI. Western blot analysis showed that the expression of GAP-43 in the 15 Hz magnetic stimulation (MS) group increased significantly. Also, rTSMS induced the expression of GAP-43 which may promote axon growth and guided the formation of new nerve connections.This study showed that rTSMS improves spinal cord function in SCI rats. Furthermore, 1 Hz stimulus is more conducive to the recovery of motor function in the acute and subacute phases after SCI, and the frequency of 15 Hz is more conducive to the recovery of motor function in the intermediate and chronic phases after SCI. Besides, rTSMS increases the expression of GAP-43 in the injured spinal cord.