Extremely low frequency electromagnetic stimulation reduces ischemic stroke volume by improving cerebral collateral blood flow. Issue 6 (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kemps, Hannelore; Dessy, Chantal; Dumas, Laurent; Sonveaux, Pierre; Alders, Lotte; Van Broeckhoven, Jana; Font, Lena Perez; Lambrichts, Sara; Foulquier, Sébastien; Hendrix, Sven; Brône, Bert; Lemmens, Robin; Bronckaers, Annelies
• Is Part Of: Journal of cerebral blood flow & metabolism. Volume 42:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 979
• Page End: 996
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Akt-/eNOS pathway -- cerebral collateral blood flow -- extremely low frequency electromagnetic stimulation -- ischemic stroke -- nitric oxide; Cerebral circulation -- Periodicals; Brain -- Metabolism -- Periodicals; Brain -- Blood-vessels -- Periodicals; Cerebrovascular disease -- Periodicals; 612.824
• DOI: 10.1177/0271678X221084410
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0271-678X

Abstract

Extremely low frequency electromagnetic stimulation (ELF-EMS) has been considered as a neuroprotective therapy for ischemic stroke based on its capacity to induce nitric oxide (NO) signaling. Here, we examined whether ELF-EMS reduces ischemic stroke volume by stimulating cerebral collateral perfusion. Moreover, the pathway responsible for ELF-EMS-induced NO production was investigated. ELF-EMS diminished infarct growth following experimental stroke in collateral-rich C57BL/6 mice, but not in collateral-scarce BALB/c mice, suggesting that decreased lesion sizes after ELF-EMS results from improved collateral blood flow. In vitro analysis demonstrated that ELF-EMS increased endothelial NO levels by stimulating the Akt-/eNOS pathway. Furthermore, ELF-EMS augmented perfusion in the hind limb of healthy mice, which was mediated by enhanced Akt-/eNOS signaling. In healthy C57BL/6 mouse brains, ELF-EMS treatment increased cerebral blood flow in a NOS-dependent manner, whereas no improvement in cerebrovascular perfusion was observed in collateral-sparse BALB/c mice. In addition, ELF-EMS enhanced cerebral blood flow in both the contra- and ipsilateral hemispheres of C57BL/6 mice subjected to experimental ischemic stroke. In conclusion, we showed that ELF-EMS enhances (cerebro)vascular perfusion by stimulating NO production, indicating that ELF-EMS could be an attractive therapeutic strategy for acute ischemic stroke by improving cerebral collateral blood flow.