Location
Suwanee, GA
Start Date
6-5-2025 1:00 PM
End Date
6-5-2025 4:00 PM
Description
INTRODUCTION: Damage to the cerebellum or its associated pathways can result in cerebellar ataxia, a disorder characterized by impaired coordination and balance. One potential treatment for ataxic patients is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).The mechanism by which tDCS exerts its effects is believed to involve long-term depression (LTD). It is hypothesized that direct current stimulation modulates Purkinje cell plasticity.
OBJECTIVE: Previously, preliminary data was collected to examine the effects of direct current stimulation (DCS) on the Purkinje cell plasticity. It is suggested that E-field application did enhance LTD based on a paired t-test (p-value = 0.018, 8 cells without E-field and 9 cells with E-field). In this study, more cases were obtained to increase the sample size to increase the validity.
METHODS: Cerebellar slices from Sprague Dawley rats (14 to 31 days old, n=25) were prepared for whole-cell patch clamp recordings. To simulate tDCS, an electric field (E-field) was applied. Purkinje cell plasticity was induced both with and without E-field application. LTD was evoked in the molecular layer using tetanus stimulation (5 Hz with train stimulation at 100 Hz). A 100 µA E-field was delivered to the cerebellar slices containing recorded Purkinje cells via parallel silver wires. Data analysis was performed in MATLAB to evaluate the I-V curve, changes in firing rate due to E-field application, and plasticity induction.
RESULTS: LTD was induced in three newly acquired cells without E-field. When combined with data from previous experiments, a total of 11 cells were analyzed to evaluate LTD induction without E-field exposure. The mean LTD responses of these 11 cells were then compared to those of the previously recorded 9 cells, in which LTD was induced under E-field application. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between the two groups, with a p-value of 0.0033. This result is consistent with previous findings.
CONCLUSION: The new results support the hypothesis that E-field stimulation modulates Purkinje cell plasticity, offering potential avenues for therapeutic interventions in cerebellar ataxia. Future studies with larger sample sizes and further exploration of E-field parameters are necessary to fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying this enhancement. Additionally, tACS will be delivered to see if it has a strengthened effect on the Purkinje cell plasticity.
Embargo Period
5-28-2025
Included in
Modulation of Purkinje cell plasticity in the cerebellum using direct current stimulation: investigating the effects on long-term depression
Suwanee, GA
INTRODUCTION: Damage to the cerebellum or its associated pathways can result in cerebellar ataxia, a disorder characterized by impaired coordination and balance. One potential treatment for ataxic patients is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).The mechanism by which tDCS exerts its effects is believed to involve long-term depression (LTD). It is hypothesized that direct current stimulation modulates Purkinje cell plasticity.
OBJECTIVE: Previously, preliminary data was collected to examine the effects of direct current stimulation (DCS) on the Purkinje cell plasticity. It is suggested that E-field application did enhance LTD based on a paired t-test (p-value = 0.018, 8 cells without E-field and 9 cells with E-field). In this study, more cases were obtained to increase the sample size to increase the validity.
METHODS: Cerebellar slices from Sprague Dawley rats (14 to 31 days old, n=25) were prepared for whole-cell patch clamp recordings. To simulate tDCS, an electric field (E-field) was applied. Purkinje cell plasticity was induced both with and without E-field application. LTD was evoked in the molecular layer using tetanus stimulation (5 Hz with train stimulation at 100 Hz). A 100 µA E-field was delivered to the cerebellar slices containing recorded Purkinje cells via parallel silver wires. Data analysis was performed in MATLAB to evaluate the I-V curve, changes in firing rate due to E-field application, and plasticity induction.
RESULTS: LTD was induced in three newly acquired cells without E-field. When combined with data from previous experiments, a total of 11 cells were analyzed to evaluate LTD induction without E-field exposure. The mean LTD responses of these 11 cells were then compared to those of the previously recorded 9 cells, in which LTD was induced under E-field application. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between the two groups, with a p-value of 0.0033. This result is consistent with previous findings.
CONCLUSION: The new results support the hypothesis that E-field stimulation modulates Purkinje cell plasticity, offering potential avenues for therapeutic interventions in cerebellar ataxia. Future studies with larger sample sizes and further exploration of E-field parameters are necessary to fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying this enhancement. Additionally, tACS will be delivered to see if it has a strengthened effect on the Purkinje cell plasticity.
Comments
Awarded "Best Original Research" at PCOM Georgia Research Day 2025