rTMS and TENS Relieve Neuropathic Pain in CCI Model Rats by Modulating Central Nervous System TRPV1 and Neuroinflammation

This study compares rTMS and TENS for neuropathic pain relief in rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI). rTMS targets the prefrontal cortex (PFC), while TENS stimulates peripheral nerves. The study investigates how these treatments affect neuroinflammation and TRPV1 expression in the brain and spinal cord. The findings suggest both rTMS and TENS can alleviate neuropathic pain, but rTMS shows superior performance, potentially through better modulation of neuroinflammation and TRPV1.

• 1
  Both rTMS and TENS effectively ameliorated CCI-induced NP, with rTMS of the PFC showing superior performance.
• 2
  rTMS treatment triggered a significant decrease in IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in the PFC and spinal cord, while TENS only decreased IL-1β expression in these regions.
• 3
  In both treatment groups, TRPV1 expression was significantly lower in the spinal cord.