An experimental paradigm consisting of prolonged transcranial stimulation of the human brain with a constant electric field was modeled in living rat hippocampal slices. Exposure to electric fields (14 min, 250 mV/mm) in the anodal and cathodal directions led to statistically significant changes in the amplitudes of total response (pop spikes) to stimulation of Schaffer collaterals (1/30 sec) in field CA1, with increases and decreases respectively. No long-term stimulation aftereffects were seen. Blockade of NMDA receptors with MK-801 eliminated electric field effects and induced a gradual decrease in responses throughout the recording period. It is suggested that the decrease in responses may reflect transfer of synapses to the “silent” state.
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Translated from Zhurnal Vysshei Nervnoi Deyatel’nosti imeni I. P. Pavlova, Vol. 62, No. 1, pp. 79–88, January–February, 2012.
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Gurskaya, O.Y., Altynbaev, R.S. & Kudryashov, I.E. Effects of Prolonged Exposure to a Constant Electric Field on the Brain in Rats. Neurosci Behav Physi 43, 315–322 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11055-013-9733-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11055-013-9733-0