Static magnetic fields reduce epileptiform activity in anesthetized rat and monkey

Abstract

Increasing evidence indicates that static magnetic fields (SMF) reduce cortical activity in both human and animal models. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of SMF on epileptiform cortical activity, a condition related to an abnormal increase in neuronal excitability. The first experimental block included a Pilocarpine rat model of epilepsy, in which a magnetic neodymium nickel-plated cylinder, a magnetic field of 0.5 T, or “sham” were placed over the skull. In the second experimental block, we recorded epileptic-like activity in the visual cortex of a monkey (Macaca mulatta) under control conditions and in the presence of the magnet. Between 15 and 30 minutes after the second dose of Pilocarpine, EEG changes compatible with seizure like events induced by Pilocarpine were clearly observed in the control animals (sham stimulation). Similar effects were visible in the animals exposed to the real magnet after 1–2 hours. In the monkey, SMF over the cortical focus clearly reduced abnormal activity: the intensity threshold for visual induction increased and the severity and duration decreased. These results reinforce the view that static magnets modulate cortical activity and open the door to the future therapeutic use of SMF in epilepsy as a complement to current pharmacological treatments.

The Structure of the Spinal Cord Ependymal Region in Adult Humans Is a Distinctive Trait among Mammals

“…Javier Cudeiro, Casto Rivadulla (NEUROcom, School of Health Sciences University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain) and Juan Aguilar (Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos). Spinal cord was extracted postmortem from a 7 year old male macaque monkey (Macaca mulatta) used in previous studies [ 52 ]. All procedures followed the rules of the Physiological Spanish Society, the International Council for Laboratory Animal Science, and the European Union (No.…”

Physiological correlates of neuro- and magnetic stimulation in therapy of epilepsy

“…Исследования применения такого метода, как магнитотерапия, при эпилепсии показывают возможность положительного влияния магнитных полей на со-стояние пациента, однако они немногочисленны. Так, в работе C. Rivadulla et al (2018) показано, что постоянное магнитное поле от магнитера в области коры (в диапазоне 0,3-0,5 T), как правило, оказывает тормозящее действие на эпилептогенез у животных и у человека [7].…”

Static magnetic stimulation in the central nervous system: a systematic review

“…Different studies have been performed to assess neuronal activity in the motor, somatosensory, and visual cortex and record changes in the behavior of subjects [4,[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. Furthermore, applications in other structures, such as in spinal cord [30] or in cerebellum [31], have also been studied.…”