Therapeutic effects of tdcs on calcium and glutamate excitotoxicity in a cerebral ischemia–reperfusion rat model

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AIM: To investigate the therapeutic effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on calcium and glutamate excitotoxicity caused by ischemia?reperfusion (IR). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The IR model was generated by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. tDCS treatment was applied at 1 mA for 30 min daily at the 2 < sup > nd < /sup > , 24 < sup > th < /sup > , and 48 < sup > th < /sup > h of IR. The motor and cognitive functions and the concentrations of Ca < sup > 2+ < /sup > , glutamate, and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) in the hippocampus tissues were evaluated. RESULTS: Results showed a reduction in motor and cognitive functions in the IR group compared with that in the sham group, whereas these functions increased in the IR+tDCS group compared with those in the IR group. Ca < sup > 2+ < /sup > , glutamate, and NMDAR concentrations were higher in the IR group than in the sham group but lower in the IR+tDCS group than in the IR group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that tDCS treatment improves motor and cognitive dysfunctions after IR and exerts therapeutic effects on learning and memory through the regulation of Ca < sup > 2+ < /sup > and glutamate excitotoxicity.