Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation ameliorates anxiety-like behavior and impaired sensorimotor gating in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder

PLoS One. 2015 Feb 6;10(2):e0117189. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117189. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been employed for decades as a non-pharmacologic treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although a link has been suggested between PTSD and impaired sensorimotor gating (SG), studies assessing the effects of rTMS against PTSD or PTSD with impaired SG are scarce.

Aim: To assess the benefit of rTMS in a rat model of PTSD.

Methods: Using a modified single prolonged stress (SPS&S) rat model of PTSD, behavioral parameters were acquired using open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze test (EPMT), and prepulse inhibition trial (PPI), with or without 7 days of high frequency (10Hz) rTMS treatment of SPS&S rats.

Results: Anxiety-like behavior, impaired SG and increased plasma level of cortisol were observed in SPS&S animals after stress for a prolonged time. Interestingly, rTMS administered immediately after stress prevented those impairment.

Conclusion: Stress-induced anxiety-like behavior, increased plasma level of cortisol and impaired PPI occur after stress and high-frequency rTMS has the potential to ameliorate this behavior, suggesting that high frequency rTMS should be further evaluated for its use as a method for preventing PTSD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anxiety* / physiopathology
  • Anxiety* / therapy
  • Behavior, Animal*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Magnetic Field Therapy / methods*
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sensory Gating*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / physiopathology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / therapy

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Key Technology R & D Program of China (No.2009BA177B09) and the Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81201041, 81371478 and 81401109). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.