Low-frequency rTMS modulated the excitability and high-frequency firing in hippocampal neurons of the Alzheimer's disease mouse model

Brain Res. 2024 May 15:1831:148822. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148822. Epub 2024 Feb 24.

Abstract

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, holds potential for applications in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aims to compare the therapeutic effects of rTMS at different frequencies on Alzheimer's disease and explore the alterations in neuronal electrophysiological properties throughout this process. APP/PS1 AD mice were subjected to two rTMS treatments at 0.5 Hz and 20 Hz, followed by assessments of therapeutic outcomes through the Novel Object Recognition (NOR) and Morris Water Maze (MWM) tests. Following this, whole-cell patch-clamp techniques were used to record action potential, voltage-gated sodium channel currents, and voltage-gated potassium channel currents in dentate gyrus granule neurons. The results show that AD mice exhibit significant cognitive decline compared to normal mice, along with a pronounced reduction in neuronal excitability and ion channel activity. Both frequencies of rTMS treatment partially reversed these changes, demonstrating similar therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, the investigation indicates that low-frequency magnetic stimulation inhibited the concentrated firing of early action potentials in AD.

Keywords: Action potential; Alzheimer’s disease; Cognitive function; Potassium channels; Sodium channels; rTMS.

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Alzheimer Disease* / therapy
  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Hippocampus
  • Mice
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / methods