The effects of electrical stimulation on neurons and glia of the central nervous system
Devlin J, Gilbert RJ · 2025
Electrical stimulation downregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines and upregulates anti-inflammatory cytokines in astrocytes and microglia, promoting regenerative states.
Plain English Summary
The authors reviewed 124 manuscripts to bridge basic research and clinical translation on electrical stimulation effects on neurons and glia in vitro and in vivo. Direct current stimulation promotes axonal extension toward the cathode while axons retract at the anode, limiting regeneration. Alternating current stimulation alternates electrode polarity, enabling axonal extension in both directions. Electrical stimulation downregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines and upregulates anti-inflammatory cytokines in astrocytes and microglia, promoting regenerative states. Both direct and alternating current stimulation enhance oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation into oligodendrocytes, increasing myelin content.
Why This Matters
The intensity and duration of electrical stimulation significantly affects the extent of neurite outgrowth. When combined with stem cell treatments, drug delivery approaches, or electroactive biomaterials, electrical stimulation facilitates greater efficacy of these approaches. Clinically, short single sessions of electrical stimulation have shown long-term improvement. Preliminary efforts have been implemented to restore gait, hand tremors, and speech in spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's Disease, and stroke patients, respectively.
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Show BibTeX
@article{devlin_j_gilbert_rj_ce4744,
author = {Devlin J and Gilbert RJ},
title = {The effects of electrical stimulation on neurons and glia of the central nervous system},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1088/1741-2552/ae2f9c},
}