The Effect of Low-Intensity Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation on Behavior in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease...

This study investigated the effects of low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) on behavior in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD) induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). The PD mouse model was induced by consecutive injecting the mice with MPTP for 7 days. When the animal model is completed, we performed behavioral tests including the wire hanging test, open field test and forced swimming test on day 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 14 during 2 weeks. Simultaneously, the ultrasound was used to stimulate the brain tissue of the mice daily for these 2 weeks. The data were analyzed to examine treatment effects. When the PD+TUS and PD+Sham groups were compared, the behavior of the PD+TUS mice was better on the fourth day after TUS (*p<0.05) and had further improved on the fourteenth day of TUS (**p<0.01). These results demonstrate that TUS can improve behavior in mice with MPTP-induced PD. The treatment effect gradually improved as the TUS duration increased.