Electrical Stimulation-Induced Muscle Damage Alters Hippocampal BDNF Signaling.

ABSTRACT: This study investigates whether electrical stimulation (ES) could mimic traditional exercise in enhancing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-dependent neuroplasticity via muscle-brain communication, specifically through the fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5)/Irisin pathway. Male Wistar rats received transcutaneous ES targeting the lumbar nerve roots to induce hindlimb muscle contractions for 30 min daily over seven consecutive days. Blood and tissue samples were collected for biochemical, histological, and molecular analyses 1 day after the final session. Our findings reveal that ES disrupted BDNF signaling in the hippocampus, reducing synaptic protein expression. At the muscular level, ES caused significant damage, particularly in the soleus muscle, accompanied

SUBMITTER: Wirtz J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12442748 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature