The effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on cerebral blood flow and new vascularization after cerebral infarction
10.3760/cma.j.issn.0254-1424.2023.10.001
- VernacularTitle:经颅直流电刺激对脑梗死大鼠神经行为学、脑血流和血管再生以及相关蛋白的影响
- Author:
Yuanhan CAI
1
;
Wen YANG
;
Anna BAI
;
Sha WANG
;
Yandong SUN
;
Yu LIANG
;
Lu WANG
;
Hui DENG
;
Lixia HAO
Author Information
1. 内蒙古医科大学附属医院康复科，呼和浩特 010000
- Keywords:
Transcranial direct current stimulation;
Cerebral infarction;
Cerebral blood flow;
Angiogenesis;
Vascular endothelial growth factor;
CD34 protein
- From:
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
2023;45(10):865-871
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore any effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on neurons, behavior, cerebral blood flow (CBF), vascular regeneration, and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD34 protein in rats modeling cerebral infarction.Methods:Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham surgery group (Sham group), a model group (modeled with middle cerebral artery occlusion, MCAO group), an anode transcranial direct current stimulation group (A-tDCS group), and a cathode transcranial direct current stimulation group (C-tDCS group), each of 8. MCAO models were established in the rats of the MCAO, A-tDCS and C-tDCS groups using thread fixation. Twenty-four hours after successful modeling, both the Sham and MCAO groups were connected with electrodes without current stimulation, while the A-tDCS and C-tDCS groups were given 20 minutes of 200μA anodic or cathodic electrical stimulation daily, 5 days a week for 12 days. Before and 24 hours after the modeling, and then after the 12 days of treatment, the four groups received Longa neurobehavioral scoring. Moreover, three days after the modeling as well as after the 12 days of treatment, changes in CBF were observed using MRI. Any blood vessel regeneration was observed using immunofluorescence methods, and the expression of VEGF and CD34 proteins were detected using western blotting.Results:The rats in the MCAO, A-tDCS and C-tDCS groups exhibited various degrees of neurological deficit after the modeling. After the 12 days of treatment the average neurobehavioral scores of the A-tDCS and C-tDCS groups were significantly lower than that of the MCAO group, with the A-tDCS group′s average significantly lower than that of the C-tDCS group. Three days after the modeling, 3D-arterial spin labeling scanning showed a significant decrease in CBF around the ischemic lesion in the MCAO, A-tDCS and C-tDCS groups, but that had increased to varying degrees after 12 days of treatment. The changes in the A-tDCS and C-tDCS groups were significantly larger than in the MCAO group on average, with the former group improving significantly more than the latter. After the 12 days of treatment, new vascularization and the expression of VEGF and CD34 proteins were significantly higher in the A-tDCS and C-tDCS groups than in the MCAO group, with the change in the former group again significantly greater than in the latter.Conclusions:tDCS can relieve the symptoms of neurological deficits in rats with cerebral infarction, promote vascular regeneration, CBF, and expression of VEGF and CD34 proteins. Anodic is superior to cathodic stimulation.
