Pitt Shield

Transcranial focused ultrasound to the thalamus alters anesthesia time in rats.

Authors: Yoo SS, Kim H, Min BK, Franck E, Park S

A pulsed application of focused ultrasound (FUS) to the regional brain tissue alters the state of tissue excitability and thus provides the means for noninvasive functional neuromodulation. We report that the application of transcranial FUS to the thalamus of anesthetized rats reduced the time to emergence of voluntary movement from intraperitoneal ketamine/xylazine anesthesia. Low-intensity FUS was applied to the thalamus of anesthetized animals. The times required for the animals to show distinct physiological/behavioral changes were measured and compared with those times required in a control session without sonication. The sonication significantly reduced the time to show pinch response and voluntary movement. The modulatory effects of FUS on anesthesia suggest potential therapeutic applications for disorders of consciousness such as minimally consciousness states.

Introduction

Purpose Transcranial ultrasound stimulation
Study Objective To determine whether low-intensity pulsed transcranial focused ultrasound applied to the thalamus accelerates emergence from ketamine-xylazine anesthesia in rats.
Animal model / Human subject Rat (Rattus norvegicus), strain not reported, age not reported, sex not reported
Disease model Anesthesia (ketamine-xylazine emergence) / disorders of consciousness (minimally conscious state)
MRI or image guidance method not specified
Targeted brain region(s) Thalamus
Target coordinates not provided
Cargo name and characteristics not provided
Route of administration not provided

Outcomes and Safety

Summary of Outcomes Transcranial pulsed low-intensity focused ultrasound applied to the thalamus of anesthetized rats accelerated emergence from ketamine-xylazine anesthesia, significantly shortening times to pinch response and voluntary movement (successful parameter: pulsed low-intensity FUS to thalamus).
Safety-related matter No adverse effects or safety concerns are reported in the text; the study describes application of low-intensity FUS and notes reduced time to emergence without mentioning harm or safety outcomes.

Brain Region

Ultrasound Parameters

Ultrasound instrument not provided
FUS Frequency 441 to 700 KHz
FUS Intensity 3.3-6 W/cm2
FUS Pressure not provided
FUS Mode pulsed
Pulse duration not provided
Duration of a single FUS session not provided
Focal Characteristics Diameter: 6cm, Focal depth: 7cm
Treatment frequency Single session

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