1
|
Chen B, Tan Q, Zhang H, Chu W, Wen H, Tian X, Yang Y, Li W, Li W, Chen Y, Feng H. Contralesional Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Promotes Intact Corticospinal Tract Axonal Sprouting and Functional Recovery After Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2024; 38:214-228. [PMID: 38385458 DOI: 10.1177/15459683241233261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (AtDCS), a neuromodulatory technique, has been applied to treat traumatic brain injury (TBI) in patients and was reported to promote functional improvement. We evaluated the effect of contralesional AtDCS on axonal sprouting of the intact corticospinal tract (CST) and the underlying mechanism in a TBI mouse model to provide more preclinical evidence for the use of AtDCS to treat TBI. METHODS TBI was induced in mice by a contusion device. Then, the mice were subjected to contralesional AtDCS 5 days per week followed by a 2-day interval for 7 weeks. After AtDCS, motor function was evaluated by the irregular ladder walking, narrow beam walking, and open field tests. CST sprouting was assessed by anterograde and retrograde labeling of corticospinal neurons (CSNs), and the effect of AtDCS was further validated by pharmacogenetic inhibition of axonal sprouting using clozapine-N-oxide (CNO). RESULTS TBI resulted in damage to the ipsilesional cortex, while the contralesional CST remained intact. AtDCS improved the skilled motor functions of the impaired hindlimb in TBI mice by promoting CST axon sprouting, specifically from the intact hemicord to the denervated hemicord. Furthermore, electrical stimulation of CSNs significantly increased the excitability of neurons and thus activated the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. CONCLUSIONS Contralesional AtDCS improved skilled motor following TBI, partly by promoting axonal sprouting through increased neuronal activity and thus activation of the mTOR pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beike Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Clinical Research Center for Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Neuromedicine and Neuroregenaration, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Qiang Tan
- Chongqing Clinical Research Center for Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Neuromedicine and Neuroregenaration, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Hongyan Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Clinical Research Center for Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Neuromedicine and Neuroregenaration, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Weihua Chu
- Department of Neurosurgery and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Clinical Research Center for Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Neuromedicine and Neuroregenaration, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Huizhong Wen
- Department of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medical Science, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Xuelong Tian
- College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Clinical Research Center for Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The 904th Hospital of PLA, School of Medicine of Anhui Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Weina Li
- Department of Neurosurgery and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Clinical Research Center for Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Neuromedicine and Neuroregenaration, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Wenyan Li
- Department of Neurosurgery and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Clinical Research Center for Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Neuromedicine and Neuroregenaration, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yujie Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Clinical Research Center for Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Neuromedicine and Neuroregenaration, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Hua Feng
- Department of Neurosurgery and State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Clinical Research Center for Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Neuromedicine and Neuroregenaration, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|