Oscillating field stimulation promotes spinal cord remyelination by inducing differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells after spinal cord injury

Abstract

Demyelination is part of the cascading secondary injury after the primary insult and contributes to the loss of function after spinal cord injury (SCI). Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are the main remyelinating cells in the central nervous system (CNS). We explored whether oscillating field stimulation (OFS) could efficiently promote OPC differentiation and improve remyelination after SCI. SD rats with SCI induced by the Allen method were randomly divided into two groups, the SCI+OFS group and SCI group. The former group received active stimulator units and the latter group received sham (inoperative) stimulator units. Additionally, rats that only received laminectomy were referred as the sham group. The electric field intensity was 600ȝV/mm, and the polarity was alternated every 15 minutes. The results showed that the SCI+OFS rats had significantly less demyelination and better locomotor function recovery after 12-weeks treatment. The OFS treatment significantly increased the number of Gal C-positive OPCs after 2-weeks treatment. Furthermore, these rats had higher protein expression of oligodendroglial transcription factors Olig2 and NKx2.2. These findings suggest OFS can promote locomotor recovery and remyelination in SCI rats and this effect may be related to the improved differentiation of OPCs in the spinal cord.

Low Field Magnetic Stimulation Ameliorates Schizophrenia-Like Behavior and Up-Regulates Neuregulin-1 Expression in a Mouse Model of Cuprizone-Induced Demyelination

“…A recent study showed that the specific stimulation site had different effects on brain network activity. For instance, bilateral rTMS exerted a significant inhibitory effects (23). Our study found myelin sheath loss in several brain areas, including cerebral cortex, corpus callosum, and striatum, was alleviated by magnetic stimulation in cuprizone-treated mice, confirming the protective effects of magnetic stimulation on white matter.…”

Spinal Cord Stimulator Explantation: Motives for Removal of Surgically Placed Paddle Systems

“…The most common hardware‐related complications of SCS include electrode migration and infection, followed by lead fracture, cerebrospinal fluid leak, and IPG malfunction; however, the most common motives amongst patients and clinicians for abandoning these systems altogether remain unclear. Comparison of complications associated with SCS placed surgically and SCS placed percutaneously was described by Babu et al; however, patient motives were not a focus of the study . At present, there are limited data distinguishing between the complications associated with the 2 methods; however, most of the available data focus on percutaneous methods.…”

Low frequency pulsed electromagnetic field promotes the recovery of neurological function after spinal cord injury in rats

“…It has been reported that oscillating field stimulation (OFS) can promote the recovery of neurological function after SCI in both humans and rodents . Accordingly, our previous studies have shown that OFS can improve the differentiation of OPCs into OLs, leading to the promotion of remyelination and the recovery of neurological function after SCI in rats .…”