中国物理B ›› 2021, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (6): 68702-068702.doi: 10.1088/1674-1056/abea81

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Computational model investigating the effect of magnetic field on neural-astrocyte microcircuit

Li-Cong Li(李利聪)1,2, Jin Zhou(周瑾)3, Hong-Ji Sun(孙洪吉)4, Peng Xiong(熊鹏)2, Hong-Rui Wang(王洪瑞)2, Xiu-Ling Liu(刘秀玲)2,†, and Chang-Yong Wang(王常勇)3,‡   

  1. 1 College of Physics Science and Technology, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China;
    2 Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering of Hebei Province, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China;
    3 Department of Neural Engineering and Biological Interdisciplinary Studies, Institute of Military Cognition and Brain Sciences, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China;
    4 Brainnetome Center, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
  • 收稿日期:2020-11-14 修回日期:2021-01-09 接受日期:2021-03-01 出版日期:2021-05-18 发布日期:2021-06-09
  • 通讯作者: Xiu-Ling Liu, Chang-Yong Wang E-mail:liuxiuling121@hotmail.com;wcy2000_zm@163.com
  • 基金资助:
    Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61673158) and the Youth Talent Support Program of Hebei Province, China (Grant No. BJ2019044).

Computational model investigating the effect of magnetic field on neural-astrocyte microcircuit

Li-Cong Li(李利聪)1,2, Jin Zhou(周瑾)3, Hong-Ji Sun(孙洪吉)4, Peng Xiong(熊鹏)2, Hong-Rui Wang(王洪瑞)2, Xiu-Ling Liu(刘秀玲)2,†, and Chang-Yong Wang(王常勇)3,‡   

  1. 1 College of Physics Science and Technology, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China;
    2 Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering of Hebei Province, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China;
    3 Department of Neural Engineering and Biological Interdisciplinary Studies, Institute of Military Cognition and Brain Sciences, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China;
    4 Brainnetome Center, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
  • Received:2020-11-14 Revised:2021-01-09 Accepted:2021-03-01 Online:2021-05-18 Published:2021-06-09
  • Contact: Xiu-Ling Liu, Chang-Yong Wang E-mail:liuxiuling121@hotmail.com;wcy2000_zm@163.com
  • Supported by:
    Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61673158) and the Youth Talent Support Program of Hebei Province, China (Grant No. BJ2019044).

摘要: Extremely low-frequency magnetic field is widely used as a noninvasive stimulation method in clinical practice and basic research. Electrical field induced from magnetic pulse can decrease or increase neuronal electrical activity. However, the cellular mechanism underlying the effects of magnetic field is not clear from experimental data. Recent studies have demonstrated that "non-neuronal" cells, especially astrocytes, may be the potential effector for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). In the present study, we implemented a neural-astrocyte microcircuit computational model based on hippocampal architecture to investigate the biological effects of different magnetic field frequencies on cells. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate the main influencing factors of MS to allow a better understanding of its mechanisms. Our model reproduced the basic characteristics of the neuron and astrocyte response to different magnetic stimulation. The results predict that interneurons with lower firing thresholds were more active in magnetic fields by contrast to pyramidal neurons. And the synaptic coupling strength between the connected neurons may be one of the critical factor to affect the effect of magnetic field on cells. In addition, the simulations show that astrocytes can decrease or increase slow inward currents (SICs) to finely tune neuronal excitation, which suggests their key role in excitatory-inhibitory balance. The interaction between neurons and astrocytes may represent a novel target for effective therapeutic strategies involving magnetic stimulation.

关键词: magnetic stimulation, neural-astrocyte microcircuit, excitatory and inhibitory balance, computational model

Abstract: Extremely low-frequency magnetic field is widely used as a noninvasive stimulation method in clinical practice and basic research. Electrical field induced from magnetic pulse can decrease or increase neuronal electrical activity. However, the cellular mechanism underlying the effects of magnetic field is not clear from experimental data. Recent studies have demonstrated that "non-neuronal" cells, especially astrocytes, may be the potential effector for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). In the present study, we implemented a neural-astrocyte microcircuit computational model based on hippocampal architecture to investigate the biological effects of different magnetic field frequencies on cells. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate the main influencing factors of MS to allow a better understanding of its mechanisms. Our model reproduced the basic characteristics of the neuron and astrocyte response to different magnetic stimulation. The results predict that interneurons with lower firing thresholds were more active in magnetic fields by contrast to pyramidal neurons. And the synaptic coupling strength between the connected neurons may be one of the critical factor to affect the effect of magnetic field on cells. In addition, the simulations show that astrocytes can decrease or increase slow inward currents (SICs) to finely tune neuronal excitation, which suggests their key role in excitatory-inhibitory balance. The interaction between neurons and astrocytes may represent a novel target for effective therapeutic strategies involving magnetic stimulation.

Key words: magnetic stimulation, neural-astrocyte microcircuit, excitatory and inhibitory balance, computational model

中图分类号:  (Neuroscience)

  • 87.19.L-
87.19.lk (Glia) 87.50.wf (Biophysical mechanisms of interaction) 87.50.-a (Effects of electromagnetic and acoustic fields on biological systems)