The Brain Protective Effect of rTMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) in Depression: A Mini-Review in Animal Studies

There are rapidly replicating human data suggesting the therapeutic and neurorestorative role of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in clinical depression. However there are only limited experimental studies in the literature and the neurobiological mechanisms of the technique are still unclear. Studies have suggested that modulating of either excitatory or inhibitory neural circuitry may be responsible for the mechanism of action of rTMS while it is still unclear whether rTMS exerts a neuroprotective effect. In the light of these findings, we aimed to review the neuroprotective effect of rTMS in animal models of depression. We have shown that rTMS may exert significant neuroprotective effect through acting on the oxidative injury, stress hormones, dopamine and serotonin levels, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor expression, neuroinflamation and hippocampal cell proliferation.