Low-frequency electrical stimulation improves neurite outgrowth of dorsal root ganglion neurons in vitro via upregulating Ca^(2+)-mediated brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression

作     者：Lidan Wan Rong Xia Wenlong Ding 

作者机构：Department of Anatomy Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai 200025 China Department of Anatomy Medical College of Nanchang University Nanchang 330006 Jiangxi Province China 

出 版 物：《Neural Regeneration Research》 (中国神经再生研究（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2010年第5卷第16期

页      面：1256-1260页

核心收录：

学科分类：0710[理学-生物学] 07[理学] 071006[理学-神经生物学] 

基　　金：the Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project,No.S30201 the Doctoral Research Foundation of Nanchang University 

主　　题：electrical stimulation dorsal root ganglion neurons neurite outgrowth brain-derived neurotrophic factor Ca2+ neural regeneration 

摘      要：Short-term, low-frequency electrical stimulation of neural tissues significantly enhances axonal regeneration of peripheral nerves following injury. However, little is known about the mechanisms of electrical stimulation to induce neurite outgrowth. In the present study, short-term, low-frequency electrical stimulation, using identical stimulation parameters of in vivo experiments, was administered to in vitro dorsal root ganglion （DRG） neurons. Enhanced neurite outgrowth, as well as synthesis and release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）, were examined in electrical stimulation-treated DRG neuronal cultures. Because the effects of electrical stimulation on neuronal intracellular signaling molecules are less reported, classic calcium intracellular signals are directly or indirectly involved in electrical stimulation effects on neurons. Cultured DRG neurons were pretreated with the calcium channel blocker nifedipine, followed by electrical stimulation. Results suggested that electrical stimulation not only promoted in vitro neurite outgrowth, but also enhanced BDNF expression. However, nifedipine reduced electrical stimulation-enhanced neurite outgrowth and BDNF biosynthesis. These results suggest that the promoting effects of electrical stimulation on DRG neurite outgrowth could be associated with altered calcium influx, which is involved induction of neuronal BDNF expression and secretion.