Background: Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) of the subgenual cingulate cortex (SCC) is a promising therapeutic alternative to treat resistant major depressive disorder. In preclinical studies, DBS of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC, the rodent SCC correlate) provokes an antidepressant-like effect, along with changes in noradrenaline levels at the site of stimulation. Hence, DBS appears to activate the noradrenergic-locus coeruleus (LC) system.
Objective/hypothesis: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vmPFC DBS on the electrical activity of noradrenergic LC neurons, cortical oscillations and coherence between both brain areas in male rats.
Methods: The antidepressant-like effect of vmPFC DBS was evaluated through the forced swimming test. Tonic and evoked activity of LC neurons, LC activity of alpha2-adrenoceptors, local field potentials from LC and electrocorticogram signals were studied after DBS by electrophysiological recordings in anaesthetized rats. The effect of DBS on tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), noradrenaline transporters (NAT), phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) expression in the LC were measured by western blot assays.
Results: DBS induced an antidepressant-like effect increasing climbing behaviour in the FST that was accompanied by a robust increase of TH expression in the rat LC. The tonic and evoked activity of LC neurons was enhanced by DBS, which impaired alpha2-adrenoceptors activity. DBS also promoted an increase in slow LC oscillations, as well as a shift in LC-cortical coherence.
Conclusion: DBS of the vmPFC appears to affect the LC, producing changes that may underlie its antidepressant-like effects.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2017.10.003 | DOI Listing |
Cerebellum
January 2025
Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) for essential tremor is remarkably effective, leading to over 80% reduction in standardized tremor ratings. However, for certain types of tremor, such as those accompanied by ataxia or dystonia, conventional DBS targets have shown poor efficacy. Various rationales for using cerebellar DBS stimulation to treat tremor have been advanced, but the varied approaches leave many questions unanswered: which anatomic target, stimulation settings, and indications seem most promising for this emerging approach.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCogn Neurodyn
December 2025
Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine of Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 China.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well-established treatment for both neurological and psychiatric disorders. Directional DBS has the potential to minimize stimulation-induced side effects and maximize clinical benefits. Many new directional leads, stimulation patterns and programming strategies have been developed in recent years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAIDS Behav
January 2025
Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2153 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Milwaukee, WI, 53212, USA.
Self-collected dried blood spot (DBS) samples may be useful in monitoring viral load (VL) in research studies or clinically given that they eliminate the need for participants to travel to study sites or laboratories. Despite this, little information exists about monitoring VL using DBS self-collected at home, and no information exists on DBS for this use among older rural people living with HIV (PLH), a population that could benefit from self-collection given difficulty accessing care. We report on the feasibility and acceptability of self-collected DBS samples, DBS VL results, concordance between self-reported and DBS VL, and factors associated with DBS detectable VL in a rural Southern U.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVitam Horm
January 2025
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address:
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is considered a global health issue that affects various aspects of patients' lives and poses a considerable burden on society. Due to the high prevalence of remissions and relapses, novel therapeutic approaches are required to manage OUD. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is one of the most promising clinical breakthroughs in translational neuroscience.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBrain Stimul
January 2025
School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa.
Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major public health concern and cause of mortality and morbidity. Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a debilitating complication of AUD, mitigated by abstinence from alcohol use. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is emerging as a potential treatment for AUD.
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