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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS in Mice
Published on: September 23, 2018
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Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and trigeminal pain: A preclinical study
Etiane Micheli Meyer Callai1,2,3, Vanessa Leal Scarabelot1,2, Liciane Fernandes Medeiros1,2,4
1Pharmacology of Pain and Neuromodulation Laboratory: Preclinical Researches, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Basic Health Sciences (ICBS), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Oral Diseases
|January 13, 2019
Summary
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) effectively treated trigeminal neuropathic pain in rats by reducing facial allodynia and lowering serum LDH. This neuromodulation approach also altered brainstem levels of NGF, TNF-α, and IL-10, indicating its therapeutic potential.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Neuromodulation
Background:
- Trigeminal neuropathic pain, induced by infraorbital nerve constriction, presents a significant clinical challenge.
- Facial allodynia is a hallmark symptom of this condition, impacting quality of life.
- Current treatment options for trigeminal neuropathic pain have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in alleviating facial allodynia.
- To assess the impact of tDCS on specific biomarkers in the brainstem and serum.
- To explore tDCS as a potential therapeutic strategy for trigeminal neuropathic pain.
Main Methods:
- Establishment of a chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve (CCI-ION) rat model.
- Assessment of facial allodynia using the von Frey filaments test at multiple time points.
- Bimodal tDCS application over 8 days, with biochemical analysis of brainstem NGF, TNF-α, IL-10, and serum LDH.
Main Results:
- CCI-ION induced significant mechanical allodynia 14 days post-surgery.
- tDCS treatment reversed mechanical allodynia, with effects persisting for 7 days post-treatment.
- tDCS reduced serum LDH levels and modulated brainstem levels of NGF, TNF-α, and IL-10.
Conclusions:
- The CCI-ION model effectively replicated trigeminal neuropathic pain.
- tDCS demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing facial allodynia and associated biochemical markers.
- tDCS shows promise as a non-invasive therapeutic intervention for trigeminal neuropathic pain.
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