[Preparation and evaluation of the effect of cerebellar interposed nucleus deep brain stimulation on the permanent...

Objective: To establish a permanent cerebral ischemia mouse model with electrode implantation and explore the efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the cerebellar interposed nucleus on improving its neurological and motor dysfunction. Methods: A total of 33 male C57BL/6 mice aged 8-9 weeks were selected and a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established by using thread embolism. The mice were divided into the control group (MCAO) and the DBS group (MCAO+DBS), according to the random number table method. Subsequently, DBS electrodes were implanted into the cerebellar interposed nucleus. After a 1-week recovery period, the DBS group underwent 3 weeks of selective cerebellar interposed nucleus DBS treatment, while the control group only had electrodes implanted without DBS treatment. The stimulation parameters were set as follows: pulse width, 60 μs; current intensity, 30 μA; frequency, 30 Hz. The neurological and motor functions of the model was assessed by conducting the 5-point scale, open-field and cylinder tests. The differences in neurological function and motor function were compared between the two groups after 0, 14, and 21 days with or without continuous electrical stimulation. Results: The success rates of the MCAO was 69.7% (23/33), with 11 in the control group and 12 in the DBS group, while the success rate of MCAO model electrode implantation was 87.0% (20/23).The scores measured on the 5-point scale in the DBS group were significantly lower than those in the control group after 21 days of DBS stimulation [M(Q₁, Q₃), 0(0,1)vs 2(1,2), P<0.01]. In the cylinder test, the hemiplegia score of the electrical stimulation group was significantly lower than that of the control group at the same period after 21 days of DBS stimulation [0.18(0.14,0.20)vs 0.40(0.35,0.51), P<0.001]. In the open field test, the total distance and average speed of the mice in the DBS group were both higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: DBS in the cerebellar interposed nucleus can improve the recovery of neurological and motor functions in mouse models of ischemic stroke.