Elsevier

Neuroscience

Volume 209, 3 May 2012, Pages 54-63
Neuroscience

Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Research Paper
Neuroprotective effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on a Huntington's disease rat model: effects on neurotrophic factors and neuronal density

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.02.034Get rights and content

Abstract

There is evidence to suggest that the neuroprotective effect of exposure of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) may be due, at least in part, to the effect of these fields on neurotrophic factors levels and cell survival, leading to an improvement in behavior. This study was undertaken to investigate the neuroprotective effects of ELFEF in a rat model of 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP)-induced Huntington's disease. Behavior patterns were evaluated, and changes in neurotrophic factor, cell damage, and oxidative stress biomarker levels were monitored in Wistar rats. Rats were given 3NP over four consecutive days (20 mg/kg body weight), whereas ELFEF (60 Hz and 0.7 mT) was applied over 21 days, starting after the last injection of 3NP. Rats treated with 3NP exhibited significantly different behavior in the open field test (OFT) and the forced swim test (FST), and displayed significant differences in neurotrophic factor levels and oxidative stress biomarkers levels, together with a neuronal damage and diminished neuronal density, with respect neuronal controls. ELFEF improved neurological scores, enhanced neurotrophic factor levels, and reduced both oxidative damage and neuronal loss in 3NP-treated rats. ELFEF alleviates 3NP-induced brain injury and prevents loss of neurons in rat striatum, thus showing considerable potential as a therapeutic tool.

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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