Transcranial magnetic stimulation attenuates hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is of two types, including continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS) and intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS), which is currently applied in various neuropsychiatric disorders. The present study aimed to explore the effect of cTBS and iTBS on hypertension and the mechanism using spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat models. Norepinephrine and epinephrine levels were determined using enzyme immunoassay kits. 60%, 80% and 100% of the motor threshold were used for stimulation. The systolic blood pressure (SBP, 168±3 vs. 189±3 mm Hg), diastolic blood pressure (DBP, 134±5 vs. 158±4 mm Hg) and mean artery pressure (MAP, 146±3 vs. 170±3 mm Hg) were attenuated after cTBS (100%) stimulation on T4 of SHR. The SBP (165±4 vs. 189±3 mm Hg), DBP (136±4 vs. 159±2 mm Hg) and MAP (146±3 vs. 169±2 mm Hg) were alleviated after cTBS (100%) stimulation on L2. The blood pressure was also attenuated after iTBS (100%) stimulation on T4 or L2 of SHR. The stimulation of cTBS or iTBS on S2 spinal column did not affect the blood pressure of SHR rats. The stimulation of cTBS or iTBS has no effect on the blood pressure in WKY rats. Norepinephrine and epinephrine levels in the SHR rat kidneys were reduced after cTBS or iTBS stimulation on T4 and L2. These results indicated that TMS attenuates hypertension after spinal column stimulation via reduction of catecholamines. Thus treatment with TMS may be a strategy for hypertension therapy in the future.