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. 2022 Feb 24:9:800158.
doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.800158. eCollection 2022.

The Impact of Accelerated HF-rTMS on Canine Brain Metabolism: An [18F]-FDG PET Study in Healthy Beagles

Yangfeng Xu  1   2 , Kathelijne Peremans  2 , Jan Courtyn  3 , Kurt Audenaert  4 , Andre Dobbeleir  2 , Yves D'Asseler  3 , Eric Achten  3 , Jimmy Saunders  2 , Chris Baeken  1   5   6
Affiliations

The Impact of Accelerated HF-rTMS on Canine Brain Metabolism: An [18F]-FDG PET Study in Healthy Beagles

Yangfeng Xu et al. Front Vet Sci. .

Abstract

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been proven to be a useful tool for the treatment of several severe neuropsychiatric disorders. Accelerated (a)rTMS protocols may have the potential to result in faster clinical improvements, but the effects of such accelerated paradigms on brain function remain to be elucidated.

Objectives: This sham-controlled arTMS study aimed to evaluate the immediate and delayed effects of accelerated high frequency rTMS (aHF-rTMS) on glucose metabolism in healthy beagle dogs when applied over the left frontal cortex.

Methods: Twenty-four dogs were randomly divided into four unequal groups: five active (n = 8)/ sham (n = 4) stimulation sessions (five sessions in 1 day), 20 active (n = 8)/ sham (n = 4) stimulation sessions (five sessions/ day for 4 days), respectively. [18F] FDG PET scans were obtained at baseline, 24 h poststimulation, after 1 and 3 months post the last stimulation session. We explicitly focused on four predefined regions of interest (left/right prefrontal cortex and left/right hippocampus).

Results: One day of active aHF-rTMS- and not sham- significantly increased glucose metabolism 24 h post-active stimulation in the left frontal cortex only. Four days of active aHF-rTMS only resulted in a nearly significant metabolic decrease in the left hippocampus after 1 month.

Conclusions: Like in human psychiatric disorders, active aHF-rTMS in healthy beagles modifies glucose metabolism, although differently immediately or after 1 month post stimulation. aHF-rTMS may be also a valid option to treat mentally disordered dogs.

Keywords: [18F]-FDG brain imaging; aHF-rTMS; canine model; neuropsychiatric disorders (NPD); repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pipeline of the whole experimental protocol: (1) twelve beagles were used, (2) neuronavigation was conducted to locate the accurate TMS point (red arrow), (3) four types of aHF-rTMS protocols were applied, (4) Images with different regions on the transversal, sagittal and dorsal slices: MRI, [18 F]-FDG PET and the fusion of both images, (5) data analysis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Boxplot showing the glucose metabolism changes of the left prefrontal cortex.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Boxplot showing the glucose metabolism changes of the left hippocampus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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