The effect of transcranial electrical stimulation of brain endorphinergic mechanisms on the blood β-endorphin level in experimental ischemic stroke and traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Objective.The study objective was to evaluate the effect of transcranialelectrical stimulation (TES therapy) of the brain endorphinergicmechanisms on opioidergic systems in experimental ischemicstroke in rats and in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Materials and methods. The plasma -endorphin level was studied inrats with experimental ischemic stroke and in TBI patients in associationwith TES therapy and without it on days 1, 3, 7, and 14. Results.The plasma -endorphin level consistently decreased ingroups without TES therapy compared to the control throughdays 1 to 14. The use of TES therapy, starting the first day of experimentalischemic stroke in rats, promoted consistent growthand stabilization of the -endorphin concentration at a levelhigher than the control one during the entire observation periodthrough days 1 to 14. The -endorphin level in patients withmoderate to severe traumatic brain injury remained consistentlydecreased in association with standard therapy during the entireobservation period through days 1 to 14. When applying TEStherapy, the -endorphin concentration was 1.39 times highercompared to that in a group of patients receiving standard treatmentonly. Discussion. Further research of the TES therapy effect on thecourse and outcome of ischemic stroke and traumatic brain injuryis required. There is a potential opportunity to include TEStherapy in the standards of care for patients in the acute phase ofischemic stroke and for TBI patients.

Keywords

• ischemic stroke
• traumatic brain injury
• tes therapy
• β-endorphins
• opioid peptides
• rat