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Updated: Sep 21, 2025
Author Spotlight: Therapeutic Benefit of Closed-Loop Deep Brain Stimulation in Depression Treatment
Published on: July 7, 2023
Electrophysiological and molecular effects of bilateral deep brain stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle in a
F Bühning1, L Miguel Telega2, Y Tong2
1Lab of Stereotaxy and Interventional Neurosciences, Dept. of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, University Freiburg - Medical Center, Germany; Dept of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, University Hospital Freiburg, Germany.
Background:
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) of the Medial Forebrain Bundle (MFB) induces antidepressant effects both clinically and pre-clinically. However, the acute electrophysiological changes induced by MFB DBS remain unknown.
Objective:
The study investigated acute mfb DBS effects on neuronal oscillations in distinct neuronal populations implicated in the pathophysiology of depression.
Methods:
The Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rodent depression model and Sprague-Dawley (SD) controls were used in the study. Recording electrodes were implanted unilaterally in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), nucleus accumbens (NAc), ventral tegmental area (VTA); DBS electrodes were implanted bilaterally in the mfb. The FSL Stim and SD Stim received bilateral mfb DBS, whereas the FSL Sham and SD Shams were not stimulated. Local field potentials (LFPs) from all areas were recorded at baseline, during, and post stimulation. Neuronal oscillations were analyzed.
Results:
mfb DBS induced 1) a significant increase of low gamma (30-45 Hz) oscillations in the mPFC uniquely in FSLs; 2) a significant increase of low gamma oscillations in the NAc and VTA in SDs and FSLs; and 3) an increase in the expression of Gad1 in the mPFC of FSL and SDs, while only increasing the expression in the NAc of FSLs.
Conclusion:
mfb DBS differentially affected neuronal oscillations in the mPFC, NAc and VTA across SD and FSL rats. Low gamma oscillations rose significantly in the mPFC of FSL rats. Molecular analysis points to a mechanism involving GABAergic interneurons as they regulate low gamma oscillations.
