Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Regulation of local alternating electric fields on synaptic plasticity in brain tissue

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Biomedical Engineering Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

External electric fields can regulate the neural network and change the excitability of the in-vivo cerebral cortex. Here, to prove the effect of alternating electric fields on the synaptic plasticity of ex-vivo tissues, the regular changes in the synaptic structure under alternating electric fields were studied.

Methods

This study applied alternating electric fields with a peak voltage of 20 V and frequencies of 5, 20, 50, and 80 Hz to the porcine cerebral cortex. Relying on transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the ultrastructure of synapses was observed, and the curvature radius of post-synaptic density (PSD) and the synaptic gap distance was quantified.

Results

The results indicated that under alternating electric fields, the average synaptic curvature of the PSD decreased by 30–59% with increasing frequency, and the average synaptic gap distance became narrower.

Conclusion

In ex-vivo brain tissue, synaptic plasticity can be regulated by alternating electric fields of different frequencies. This study can provide reference data for the storage and regulation of ex-vivo organs, as well as comparable data for in-vivo studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Reznik RI, Barreto E, et al. Effects of polarization induced by non-weak electric fields on the excitability of elongated neurons with active dendrites. J Comput Neurosci. 2016;40(1):27–50. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10827-015-0582-4.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  2. Wang H, Chen Y. Spatiotemporal activities of neural network exposed to external electric fields. Nonlinear Dynam. 2016;85(2):881–91. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11071-016-2730-4.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  3. Vrselja Z, Daniele SG, et al. Restoration of brain circulation and cellular functions hours post-mortem. Nature. 2019;568(7752):336–43. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1099-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Zhang C, Zhao H. The effects of electric fields on the mechanical properties and microstructure of ex vivo porcine brain tissues. Soft Matter. 2022;18(7):1498–509. https://doi.org/10.1039/d1sm01401c.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Rahman A, Reato D, et al. Cellular effects of acute direct current stimulation: somatic and synaptic terminal effects. J Physiol-London. 2013;591(10):2563–78. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2012.247171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Lafon B, Rahman A, et al. Direct-current stimulation-alters neuronal Input/Output function. Brain Stimul. 2017;10(1):36–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2016.08.014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Matsumoto H, Ugawa Y. Adverse events of tDCS and tACS: a review. Clin Neurophys Pract. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnp.2016.12.003. 219 – 25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Guerra A, Suppa A, et al. LTD-like plasticity of the human primary motor cortex can be reversed by gamma-tACS. Brain Stimul. 2019;12(6):1490–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2019.06.029.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Zhang C, Li Y, et al. Effects of different types of Electric Fields on Mechanical Properties and microstructure of Ex vivo Porcine Brain Tissues. ACS Biomater Sci Eng. 2022;8(12):5349–60. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Sauleau P, Lapouble E, et al. The pig model in brain imaging and neurosurgery. Animal. 2009;3(8):1138–51. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1751731109004649.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Holm IE, Alstrup AKO, et al. Genetically modified pig models for neurodegenerative disorders. J Pathol. 2016;238(2):267–87. https://doi.org/10.1002/path.4654.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Eaton SL, Wishart TM. Bridging the gap: large animal models in neurodegenerative research. Mamm Genome. 2017;28(7–8). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00335-017-9687-6. 324 – 37.

  13. Zhang C, Liu CY, et al. Mechanical properties of brain tissue based on microstructure. J Mech Behav Biomed. 2022;126:104924. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104924.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Klemann C, Roubos EW. The Gray Area between Synapse structure and Function-Gray’s synapse types I and II revisited. Synapse. 2011;65(11):1222–30. https://doi.org/10.1002/syn.20962.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Santuy A, Rodriguez JR, et al. Study of the size and shape of Synapses in the Juvenile Rat Somatosensory cortex with 3D Electron Microscopy. Eneuro. 2018;5(1):2017. https://doi.org/10.1523/eneuro.0377-17.2017.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Alekseichuk I, Falchier AY, et al. Electric field dynamics in the brain during multi-electrode transcranial electric stimulation. Nat Commun. 2019;10(1):2573. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-10581-7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Luo Y, Xu NG et al. Electroacupuncture effect on synaptic ultrastructure in focal cerebral ischemia marginal zone of the rat. Neural Regen Res. 2010; 5(8): 618 – 22. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2010.08.009.

  18. Marrs GS, Green SH, et al. Rapid formation and remodeling of postsynaptic densities in developing dendrites. Nat Neurosci. 2001;4(10):1006–13. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn717.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Puthenveedu MA, Yudowski GA, et al. Endocytosis of neurotransmitter receptors: location matters. Cell. 2007;130(6):988–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2007.09.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Medvedev NI, Popov VI, et al. Alterations in synaptic curvature in the dentate gyrus following induction of long-term potentiation, long-term depression, and treatment with the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist CPP. Neuroscience. 2010;171(2):390–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2010.09.014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Rodriguez-Diaz R, Dando R, et al. Alpha cells secrete acetylcholine as a non-neuronal paracrine signal priming beta cell function in humans. Nat Med. 2011;17(7):888–92. https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.2371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Wischnewski M, Engelhardt M, et al. NMDA receptor-mediated motor cortex plasticity after 20 hz transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation. Cereb Cortex. 2019;29(7):2924–31. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhy160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Berger A, Pixa NH, et al. Brain oscillatory and hemodynamic activity in a Bimanual Coordination Task following transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS): a combined EEG-fNIRS study. Front Behav Neurosci. 2018;12:00067. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00067.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Alekseichuk I, Pabel SC, et al. Intrahemispheric theta rhythm desynchronization impairs working memory. Restor Neurol and Neuros. 2017;35(2):147–58. https://doi.org/10.3233/rnn-160714.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Grossman N, Bono D, et al. Noninvasive Deep Brain Stimulation via temporally Interfering Electric Fields. Cell. 2017;169(6):1029–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2017.05.024.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Wu L, Liu T, et al. Improving the Effect of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS): a systematic review. Front Hum Neurosci. 2021;15:652393. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2021.652393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (51925504), the Foundation for Innovative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52021003), and the National Major Scientific Research Instrument Development Project (52227810). Simultaneously, we sincerely thank Minyue Zeng from the University of British Columbia for her insight into biochemistry and molecular biology to analyze the partial mechanism of changes regarding the brain microstructure under electric fields.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, 5988 Renmin Street, Changchun, 130025, P. R. China

    Chi Zhang, Yiqiang Li & Hongwei Zhao

  2. Key Laboratory of CNC Equipment Reliability, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, 5988 Renmin Street, Changchun, 130025, P. R. China

    Chi Zhang, Yiqiang Li & Hongwei Zhao

  3. Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, P. R. China

    Li Yang

Authors
  1. Chi Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yiqiang Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Li Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hongwei Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hongwei Zhao.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, C., Li, Y., Yang, L. et al. Regulation of local alternating electric fields on synaptic plasticity in brain tissue. Biomed. Eng. Lett. 13, 391–396 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13534-023-00287-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13534-023-00287-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation