The Effect of Electrical Stimulation on Endogenous Neural Stem and Progenitor Cell Behavior

Electrical stimulation to the central nervous system, such as deep brain stimulation, is a well-established neurosurgical technique used to treat a variety of neurological disorders. Despite its use as a promising therapy, the effects of electrical stimulation on different neural cells have not been fully explored. We examined the effects of electrical stimulation on the behavior of neural stem and progenitor cells (neural precursor cells; NPCs) found in the periventricular niche of the adult forebrain. We demonstrate that in vitro stimulation of primary periventricular cells at 250mv/mm gives more neural precursors. In vivo, an expansion in stem cells was concomitant with an increase in progenitor cell proliferation in vivo. The increase in the NPC pool can be accounted for by increasing the amount of symmetric divisions the stem cells undergo. These findings provide insight into the effects electrical stimulation on NPCs and its potential use in regenerative medicine strategies.M.A.S