Transcranial Magneto-Acoustic Stimulation Improves Neuroplasticity in Hippocampus of Parkinson's Disease Model Mice

Abstract

In this study, we have, for the first time, demonstrated the beneficial effects of transcranial magneto-acoustic stimulation (TMAS), a technique based on focused ultrasound stimulation within static magnetic field, on the learning and memory abilities and neuroplasticity of the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Our results showed that chronic TMAS treatment (2 weeks) improved the outcome of Morris water maze, long-term potentiation (LTP), and dendritic spine densities in the dentate gyrus (DG) region of the hippocampus of PD model mice. To further investigate into the underlying mechanisms of these beneficial effects by TMAS, we quantified the proteins in the hippocampus that regulated neuroplasticity. Results showed that the level of postsynaptic density protein 95 was elevated in the brain of TMAS-treated PD model mice while the level of synaptophysin (SYP) did not show any change. We further quantified proteins that mediated neuroplasticity mechanisms, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and other important proteins that mediated neuroplasticity. Results showed that TMAS treatment elevated the levels of BDNF, cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and protein kinase B (p-Akt) in the PD model mouse hippocampus, but not in the non-PD mouse hippocampus. These results suggest that the beneficial effects on the neuroplasticity of PD model mice treated with TMAS could possibly be conducted through postsynaptic regulations and mediated by BDNF.

Structural Plasticity of the Hippocampus in Neurodegenerative Diseases

“…Synaptic mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment in PD are widely reported in preclinical studies ( Figure 1 ). For instance, impaired hippocampal synaptic plasticity in terms of decreased LTP is reported in neurotoxic models of PD, such as 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats [ 136 , 137 , 138 ] and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-lesioned mice [ 136 , 137 , 139 ]. Similarly, α-Syn transgenic (TG) mice also showed reduced hippocampal CA1 LTP [ 136 ].…”

Adaptive Fuzzy Control for the Generalized Projective Synchronization of Fractional-Order Extended Hindmarsh-Rose Neurons

“…where h 0 is a small positive constant that implies a good approximation. Using the control inputs (23) and the fuzzy approximation systems (22), the time derivative of the new error variables can be rewritten aṡ…”

“…As the alternating current is determined by the variables of amplitude, frequency and initial phase, the neuronal model with alternating current input has complex dynamic characteristics. TMAS is a relatively new method that utilizes ultrasound waves in a static magnetic field to produce an alternating current as the external stimulation input for neurons [22], [23]. Compared with TMS and TFUS, TMAS has advantages in terms of spatial resolution and penetration depth and has become a potential treatment for neurological diseases [24].…”

Resistance exercise improves short-term memory through inactivation of NF-κB pathway in mice with Parkinson disease

“…Inflammatory cells produced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6, and the secretion of these proinflammatory cytokines was enhanced by nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation ( Wang et al, 2019 ). Overproduction of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 exacerbated the progress of acute liver injury ( Ko et al, 2020 ), and thus inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines is presented as a guideline for the treatment of acute liver injury.…”