Precise Magnetic Stimulation of the Paraventricular Nucleus Improves Sociability in a Mouse Model of ASD.

Sha LIU; Quyang YANG; Pengfei ZHU; Xuan LIU; Qingbo LU; Jie YANG; Jingyao GAO; Hongbin HAN; Zhijun ZHANG; Ning GU; Tao TAN; Jianfei SUN

Return

Precise Magnetic Stimulation of the Paraventricular Nucleus Improves Sociability in a Mouse Model of ASD.

Author: Sha LIU ¹ ; Quyang YANG ¹ ; Pengfei ZHU ¹ ; Xuan LIU ² ; Qingbo LU ³ ; Jie YANG ⁴ ; Jingyao GAO ⁴ ; Hongbin HAN ⁵ ; Zhijun ZHANG ^{6
,

7} ; Ning GU ⁸ ; Tao TAN ⁹ ; Jianfei SUN ¹⁰
Author Information

1. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
2. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
3. Department of Neurology, Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Research Institution of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
4. Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Affiliated Wenzhou Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China.
5. Department of Radiology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Devices and Technology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.
6. Department of Neurology, Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Research Institution of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China. janemengzhang@vip.
7. com.
8. Nanjing Key Laboratory for Cardiovascular Information and Health Engineering Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical School, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China. guning@nju.edu.cn.
9. Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Affiliated Wenzhou Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China. sunzaghi@seu.edu.cn.
10. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China. sunzaghi@seu.edu.cn.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Autism; Deep brain magnetic stimulation; Hypothalamus paraventricular nucleus; Oxytocin; Superparamagnetic nanodrugs
MeSH: Animals; Autism Spectrum Disorder/physiopathology*; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/physiology*; Disease Models, Animal; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation/methods*; Male; Social Behavior; Mice; Oxytocin/metabolism*; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neurons/physiology*
From: Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(10):1711-1728
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract: Magnetic stimulation has made significant strides in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Nonetheless, current magnetic stimulation techniques lack the precision to accurately modulate specific nuclei and cannot realize deep brain magnetic stimulation. To address this, we utilized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as mediators to achieve precise targeting and penetration. We investigated the effects of magnetic fields with varying frequencies on neuronal activity and compared the activation effects on neurons using a 10-Hz precise magneto-stimulation system (pMSS) with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in mice. Oxytocin levels, dendritic morphology and density, and mouse behavior were measured before and after pMSS intervention. Our findings suggest that pMSS can activate oxytocinergic neurons, leading to upregulation of oxytocin secretion and neurite outgrowth. As a result, sociability was rapidly improved after a one-week pMSS treatment regimen. These results demonstrate a promising magneto-stimulation method for regulating neuronal activity in deep brain nuclei and provide a promising therapeutic approach for autism spectrum disorder.