rTMS and TENS Relieve Neuropathic Pain in CCI Model Rats by Modulating Central Nervous System TRPV1 and...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pain Management
• Neuromodulation

Background:

• Neuropathic pain (NP) is a debilitating condition.
• Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are established NP treatments.
• Comparative efficacy and mechanisms of rTMS and TENS for NP are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of PFC rTMS and TENS in alleviating peripheral NP.
• To investigate the impact of rTMS on neuroinflammation.
• To explore the neural mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of these interventions.

Main Methods:

• Eighteen rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI) were divided into NP, rTMS, and TENS groups.
• rTMS applied to PFC; TENS applied to hind limb, daily for 4 weeks.
• Assessed pain via paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT); measured neuroinflammation (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), TRPV1 expression, and sciatic nerve pathology.

Main Results:

• Both rTMS and TENS significantly increased PWMT compared to controls.
• rTMS showed greater PWMT increase than TENS.
• rTMS significantly reduced IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α; TENS reduced IL-1β.
• Both treatments decreased spinal TRPV1 expression and improved sciatic nerve pathology.

Conclusions:

• PFC rTMS and TENS are effective in treating CCI-induced NP, with rTMS being superior.
• Both interventions reduce spinal neuroinflammation and TRPV1 expression, suggesting a common therapeutic mechanism.
• rTMS offers a promising therapeutic strategy for managing neuropathic pain.