Effects of low-frequency electrical stimulation on synaptic plasticity in the contralesional mirror area of the cortex of rats with cerebral infarction
10.3760/cma.j.issn.0254-1424.2009.10.002
- VernacularTitle:低频电刺激对大鼠脑梗死灶镜区皮质突触可塑性的影响
- Author:
Zhiqiang ZHUANG
;
Dongmei JIN
;
Tiebin YAN
;
Yuan PENG
;
Yun XIANG
;
Xiuyuan ZHENG
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Low-frequency electrical stimulation;
Cerebral infarction;
Synapses;
Plasticity
- From:
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
2009;31(10):651-654
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To study changes in synaptic plasticity in the contralesional mirror area of the cortexes of rats with cerebral infarction treated by low-frequency electrical stimulation(LFES)and to explore the therapeutic mechanism of LFES on the molecular level.Methods Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into a LFES group,a placebo group and a sham-operation group.Following middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO),rats in the LFES group were treated with LFES for 7 d(20 min/d),while the ones in placebo group were connected with the same LFES device but without electricity.Rats in the sham-operation group were subjected to a MCAO operation without occlusion and then received no special treatment.Synaptic ultra-structures and the expression levels of glia fibrillary acidic protein(CFAP)and synaptophysin in the contralesional mirror area of the cortexes of the rats in each group were measured with electron-microscopy and Western blotting.Results Compared with the placebo group or the rats before treatment,rats treated with LFES exhibited ultra-structural changes in the form of larger curvature of synaptic interfaces and narrower synaptic clefts.GFAP expression levels did not fluctuate significantly,but the expression of synaptophysin was significantly up-regulated.Conclusion LFES treatment can induce active changes in synaptic plasticity in the contralesional mirror area of the cortex of rats after cerebral infarction.
