Neural circuit repair by low-intensity magnetic stimulation requires cryptochrome

Dufor, T.; Grehl, S.; Tang, A. D.; Doulazmi, M.; Traore, M.; Debray, N.; Dubacq, C.; Deng, Z.-D.; Mariani, J.; Lohof, A. M.; Sherrard, R. M.

doi:10.1101/424317

bioRxiv · 10.1101/424317

Neural circuit repair by low-intensity magnetic stimulation requires cryptochrome

Dufor, T.·Grehl, S.·Tang, A. D.·Doulazmi, M.·Traore, M.·Debray, N.·Dubacq, C.·Deng, Z.-D.·Mariani, J.·Lohof, A. M.·Sherrard, R. M.

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Abstract

Magnetic brain stimulation is a promising treatment in neurology and psychiatry, but clinical outcomes are variable. Unfortunately, mechanisms underlying magnetic stimulation effects are ill-defined, which impedes the development of stimulation protocols appropriate for different neurological conditions. Here we show, in vivo and ex vivo, that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation at low-intensity (LI-rTMS) induces axon outgrowth and synaptogenesis to repair a neural circuit. This repair depends on stimulation pattern, with complex patterns being particularly effective, and its mechanism requires the presence of cryptochrome (Cry), a putative magneto-receptor. Effective LI-rTMS patterns altered expression of Cry target genes known to promote neuronal repair. Because LI-rTMS generates electric fields too weak to depolarise neurons, these findings indicate that the magnetic field itself induces the repair. Our data open a new framework for magnetic stimulation - cryptochrome-mediated molecular and structural neuroplasticity. This information suggests new routes to treatments specific for each neurological disease.

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Dufor, T., Grehl, S., Tang, A. D., Doulazmi, M., Traore, M., Debray, N., Dubacq, C., Deng, Z.-D., Mariani, J., Lohof, A. M., Sherrard, R. M.. 2018-09-23. Neural circuit repair by low-intensity magnetic stimulation requires cryptochrome. https://doi.org/10.1101/424317

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