High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation regulates neural oscillations of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in mice by modulating endocannabinoid signalling

Neural oscillations play a role in the antidepressant effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). However, the effects of high-frequency rTMS on the neural oscillations of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus (HPC) and its molecular mechanism have not been fully clarified. The depressive-like behaviours, local field potentials (LFPs) of the ventral HPC (vHPC)-mPFC, and alternations of endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the HPC and mPFC were observed after rTMS treatment. Meanwhile, depressive-like behaviours and LFPs were also observed after cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB1R) antagonist AM281 or monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitor JZL184 injection. Moreover, the antidepressant effect of rTMS was further assessed in glutamatergic-CB1R and gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)-ergic -CB1R knockout mice. Alternations of endocannabinoids and energy value and synchronisation of mPFC-vHPC, especially the decrease of theta oscillation induced by CUMS, were alleviated by rTMS. JZL184 has similar effects to rTMS and AM281 blocked the effects of rTMS. GABAergic-CB1R deletion inhibited CUMS-induced depressive-like behaviours whereas Glutaminergic-CB1R deletion dampened the antidepressant effects of rTMS. The immediate effect of rTMS on field-potential regulation was not observed. Moreover, the role of region-specific regulation of the ECS in the antidepressant effect of rTMS was unclear and the effects of cell-specific CB1R knockout on neuronal oscillations of the mPFC and vHPC should be further investigated. Endocannabinoid system mediated the antidepressant effects and was involved in the regulation of LFP in the vHPC-mPFC of high-frequency rTMS. [Display omitted] •CUMS induces neural oscillation and ECS dysfunction in mPFC and HPC•These dysfunctions are restored after rTMS•JZL184 has similar effects to rTMS and AM281 blocked the effects of rTMS•GABAergic-CB1R deletion inhibits CUMS-induced depressive-like behaviours•Glutaminergic-CB1R deletion inhibits the antidepressant effects of rTMS.