Transcranial magnetic stimulation and the expression of Bcl-2 and brain derived neurotrophic factor after cerebral infarction

Abstract

Objective To study the effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation （TMS） on the rehabilitation of rats with cerebral infarction. Methods One hundred Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham-operated control group, a model group and a TMS group with 25 rats in each group. A cerebral infarc- tion model was established in the latter two groups by left middle cerebral artery occlusion （MCAO）. TMS was started at either 12 or 24 hours after reperfusion, and sham-TMS was given to the first two groups at the same time points. The expression of Bcl-2 mRNA and BDNF mRNA were measured by RT-PCR after 14 days. Results Bel-2 mRNA and BDNF mRNA were detected in all groups. The expression of Bcl-2 mRNA in the TMS-12 h group, and that of BDNF mRNA in the TMS-24 h group were significantly higher than in the other groups. Conclusions The expres- sion of Bel-2 mRNA and BDNF mRNA in the brains of rats after cerebral infarction peak when TMS is administered 12 h and 24 h after reperfusion, respectively. TMS might have protective and rehabilitative effects on rats after cere- bral infarct. Key words: Transeranial magnetic stimulation; Cerebral infarct; B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 gene; Brain derived nenrotrophie factors