A Pilot Study on the Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of Aß and Tau Levels in Rhesus Monkey Cerebrospinal Fluid.

Previous studies have demonstrated that a non-invasive light-flickering regime and auditory tone stimulation could affect Aß and tau metabolism in the brain. As a non-invasive technique, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been applied for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. This study explored the effects of rTMS on Aß and tau levels in rhesus monkey cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This is a single-blind, self-controlled study. Three different frequencies (low frequency, 1 Hz; high frequencies, 20 Hz and 40 Hz) of rTMS were used to stimulate the bilateral-dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of the rhesus monkey. A catheterization method was used to collect CSF. All samples were subjected to liquid chip detection to analyze CSF biomarkers (Aß42, Aß42/Aß40, tTau, pTau). CSF biomarker levels changed with time after stimulation by rTMS. After stimulation, the Aß42 level in CSF showed an upward trend at all frequencies (1 Hz, 20 Hz, and 40 Hz), with more significant differences for the high-frequencies (p < 0.05) than for the low frequency. After high-frequency rTMS, the total Tau (tTau) level of CSF immediately increased at the post-rTMS timepoint (p < 0.05) and gradually decreased by 24 h. Moreover, the results showed that the level of phosphorylated Tau (pTau) increased immediately after 40 Hz rTMS (p < 0.05). The ratio of Aß42/Aß40 showed an upward trend at 1 Hz and 20 Hz (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the tau levels with low-frequency (1 Hz) stimulation. Thus, high-frequencies (20 Hz and 40 Hz) of rTMS may have positive effects on Aß and tau levels in rhesus monkey CSF, while low-frequency (1 Hz) rTMS can only affect Aß levels.