Direct current stimulation-induced synaptic plasticity in the sensorimotor cortex: structure follows function
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Direct current stimulation-induced synaptic plasticity in the sensorimotor cortex: structure follows function. / Gellner, Anne-Kathrin; Reis, Janine; Holtick, Carsten; Schubert, Charlotte; Fritsch, Brita.
In: BRAIN STIMUL, Vol. 13, No. 1, 14.08.2019, p. 80-88.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Direct current stimulation-induced synaptic plasticity in the sensorimotor cortex: structure follows function
AU - Gellner, Anne-Kathrin
AU - Reis, Janine
AU - Holtick, Carsten
AU - Schubert, Charlotte
AU - Fritsch, Brita
N1 - Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2019/8/14
Y1 - 2019/8/14
N2 - BACKGROUND: Non-invasive direct current stimulation (DCS) of the brain induces functional plasticity in vitro and facilitates motor learning across species. The effect of DCS on structural synaptic plasticity is currently unknown.OBJECTIVE: This study addresses the effects and the underlying mechanisms of anodal DCS on structural plasticity and morphology of dendritic spines in the sensorimotor cortex (M1/S1).METHODS: A DCS electrode setup was combined with a chronic cranial window over M1/S1 in transgenic Thy1-GFP mice, to allow for in vivo 2-photon microscopy and simultaneous DCS. Contralateral electrical forepaw stimulation (eFS) was used to mimic the second synapse specific input, a previously shown requirement to induce functional plasticity by DCS. Changes in spine density and spine morphology were compared between DCS/eFS and sham, as well as two control conditions (sham-DCS/eFS, DCS/sham-eFS). Furthermore, the role of BDNF for stimulation-induced changes in spine density was assessed in heterozygous Thy1-GFP x BDNF+/- mice.RESULTS: Combined DCS/eFS rapidly increased spine density during stimulation and changes outlasted the intervention for 24 h. This effect was due to increased survival of original spines and a preferential formation of new spines after intervention. The latter were morphologically characterized by larger head sizes. The DCS-induced spine density increase was absent in mice with reduced BDNF expression.CONCLUSION: Previous findings of DCS-induced functional synaptic plasticity can be extended to structural plasticity in M1/S1 that similarly depends on a second synaptic input (eFS) and requires physiological BDNF expression. These findings show considerable parallels to motor learning-induced M1 spine dynamics.
AB - BACKGROUND: Non-invasive direct current stimulation (DCS) of the brain induces functional plasticity in vitro and facilitates motor learning across species. The effect of DCS on structural synaptic plasticity is currently unknown.OBJECTIVE: This study addresses the effects and the underlying mechanisms of anodal DCS on structural plasticity and morphology of dendritic spines in the sensorimotor cortex (M1/S1).METHODS: A DCS electrode setup was combined with a chronic cranial window over M1/S1 in transgenic Thy1-GFP mice, to allow for in vivo 2-photon microscopy and simultaneous DCS. Contralateral electrical forepaw stimulation (eFS) was used to mimic the second synapse specific input, a previously shown requirement to induce functional plasticity by DCS. Changes in spine density and spine morphology were compared between DCS/eFS and sham, as well as two control conditions (sham-DCS/eFS, DCS/sham-eFS). Furthermore, the role of BDNF for stimulation-induced changes in spine density was assessed in heterozygous Thy1-GFP x BDNF+/- mice.RESULTS: Combined DCS/eFS rapidly increased spine density during stimulation and changes outlasted the intervention for 24 h. This effect was due to increased survival of original spines and a preferential formation of new spines after intervention. The latter were morphologically characterized by larger head sizes. The DCS-induced spine density increase was absent in mice with reduced BDNF expression.CONCLUSION: Previous findings of DCS-induced functional synaptic plasticity can be extended to structural plasticity in M1/S1 that similarly depends on a second synaptic input (eFS) and requires physiological BDNF expression. These findings show considerable parallels to motor learning-induced M1 spine dynamics.
U2 - 10.1016/j.brs.2019.07.026
DO - 10.1016/j.brs.2019.07.026
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 31405790
VL - 13
SP - 80
EP - 88
JO - BRAIN STIMUL
JF - BRAIN STIMUL
SN - 1935-861X
IS - 1
ER -