The effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation of rat brain on behavioral models of depression

Neuroendocrine and Behavioral Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in a Psychopathological Animal Model Are Suggestive of Antidepressant-like Effects

“…In our hands, all rTMS-treated HAB rats adopted a more active coping strategy in that they struggled significantly more than the controls, floated less and took longer to show the first floating reaction. This finding of a robust increase in active coping abilities extends earlier reports of reduced immobility in mice (Fleischmann et al 1995) and rats (Zyss et al 1997) after two sessions and two 5-day series of rTMS, respectively. It should be noted, however, that these effects were observed in commercially available animals that do not necessarily reflect the pathological conditions found in patients suffering from psychiatric disease states.…”

“…Recently, it was shown that acute and subchronic rTMS treatments reduced the duration of immobility in rodents in the Porsolt swim test (Fleischmann et al 1995;Zyss et al 1997), a test that is thought to have predictive value for the efficacy of antidepressant drugs in humans (Porsolt et al 1977; for a review, see Lucki 1997). Moreover, we recently demonstrated that long-term rTMS in rats has a neuroprotective effect both in vitro and in vivo (Post et al 1999).…”

“…KEY WORDS : HPA system; ACTH; Depression; Stress coping; Frontal brain; rTMS; emotionality Several lines of evidence resulting from both preclinical (Fleischmann et al 1995;Zyss et al 1997) and clinical (George et al 1999) studies suggest that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of left frontal brain regions might have antidepressant effects. Recently, it was shown that acute and subchronic rTMS treatments reduced the duration of immobility in rodents in the Porsolt swim test (Fleischmann et al 1995;Zyss et al 1997), a test that is thought to have predictive value for the efficacy of antidepressant drugs in humans (Porsolt et al 1977; for a review, see Lucki 1997).…”

Long-Term Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Increases the Expression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Cholecystokinin mRNA, but not Neuropeptide Tyrosine mRNA in Specific Areas of Rat Brain

“…A possible effect of TMS on mood was first reported in 1987 (Bickford et al 1987) and, although discussed controversially, to date several lines of evidence resulting from both preclinical (Fleischmann et al 1995;Zyss et al 1997) and clinical (e.g., Pascual-Leone et al 1996) studies support the notion that repetitive TMS (rTMS) may have antidepressant properties: rTMS induces transient enhancement of mood in healthy subjects, and daily application alleviates symptoms in patients suffering from treatment-resistant major depression (for review see George et al 1999).…”

“…A possible effect of TMS on mood was first reported in 1987 (Bickford et al 1987) and, although discussed controversially, to date several lines of evidence resulting from both preclinical (Fleischmann et al 1995;Zyss et al 1997) and clinical (e.g., Pascual-Leone et al 1996) studies support the notion that repetitive TMS (rTMS) may have antidepressant properties: rTMS induces transient enhancement of mood in healthy subjects, and daily application alleviates symptoms in patients suffering from treatment-resistant major depression (for review see George et al 1999).Although rTMS is currently being evaluated as a possible alternative or add-on therapy in the treatment of refractory depression, knowledge concerning its effects at the molecular and cellular level is still very limited. Recently, Ji et al (1998) reported a specific activation of brain regions in terms of immediate early gene expression in rats in response to rTMS.…”