Cellular and Molecular NeuroscienceResearch PaperNeuroprotective effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on a Huntington's disease rat model: effects on neurotrophic factors and neuronal density
Highlights
▶ELFEF has a neuroprotective effects. ▶ELFEF prompts an increase in neurotrophic factor levels and neuronal density. ▶ELFEF improves behavior. ▶ELFEF maybe used as a new therapeutic strategy against neurodegenerative disease.
Section snippets
Animals
All procedures with animals were performed in accordance with the guidelines established by the European Communities Council Directive of November 24, 1986 (86/609/ECC) and the R.D. 223/1988, and were approved by Bioethics Committee of the University of Cordoba, Spain. All procedures were performed to minimize the number of animals used and their suffering.
For this study, 48 male Wistar rats weighing between 200 and 250 g and 3 months old at the beginning of the study were purchased from
Results
The mock procedure, which involved placing the animals in the same ELFEF apparatus (plastic cylindrical cage) for the same period of time, but with no actual stimulation and no oscillatory magnetic field, prompted no changes in any of the variables (data not shown).
Discussion
The most significant finding of this study was that ELFEF acted as a neuroprotector, improving animal behavior (OFT and FST). In addition, ELFEF prompted an increase in BDNF and GDNF levels and neuronal density, while reducing oxidative and cell damage.
Conclusions
It is suggested that chronic exposure to ELFEF counters 3NP-induced brain injury in rats and prevents neuron loss in rat striatum, leading to improved behavior. These effects would appear to be linked to ELFEF-induced enhancement of antioxidant and neuroproliferative (neurogenesis) activity. Overall, these results confirm ELFEF as a potentially promising therapeutic tool for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease. However, further research is required to clarify the specific mechanisms
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2021, Neuroscience LettersCitation Excerpt :Thus to promote recovery we need strategies that can fill the gaps, restore microenvironment balance and encourage regeneration and plasticity. Magnetic field (MF) stimulation has the capacity to modulate local niche, as it has been shown to release growth factors from oligodendrocyte in cell culture as well as in Huntington’s rat model [4,5]. It is also evident that MF stimulation promotes neuronal survival [6] and facilitates regeneration of serotonergic fibers in SCI rats [7].
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Both authors have contributed at the same form.