Shirley Sharabi1, Dianne Daniels2, David Last2, David Guez2, Zion Zivli3, David Castel4, Yoav Levy5, Alexander Volovick5, Javier Grinfeld5, Itay Rachmilevich5, Talia Amar5, Yael Mardor6, Sagi Harnof7. 1. Advanced Technology Center, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, 52621, Israel. Electronic address: shirley.sharabi@sheba.health.gov.il. 2. Advanced Technology Center, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, 52621, Israel. 3. Neurosurgery Dept, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, 52621, Israel. 4. Neufeld Cardiac Research Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, 52621, Israel. 5. InSightec Ltd., Haifa, Israel. 6. Advanced Technology Center, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, 52621, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel. 7. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel; Neurosurgery Dept, Rabin Medical Center, Petach-Tikva, 4941492, Israel.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most common movement disorders of adults, characterized by postural and kinetic tremor. With drug treatment only partially efficient, new treatments are being developed. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of non-thermal focused-ultrasound (FUS) to induce tremor-suppression in an ET rat model. METHODS: Harmaline-induced tremor rats were treated with FUS along the inferior olivary (IO) system. EMG was recorded continuously during treatment in order to quantify FUS-induced tremor suppression. T2-weighted MRI was performed immediately following treatment and periodically thereafter. RESULTS: FUS treatment at an intensity of 27.2 W/cm2 (Isppa) induced significant reduction of tremor in 12 out of 13 ET rats. Tremor frequency was reduced from 6.2 ± 2.8 to 2 ± 1 Hz, p < 0.0003. In 6 of the 12 responding rats, tremor was completely suppressed. Response duration was 70 ± 61s, on average. FUS induced motor response, depicted as movement of the tail and/or the limbs synchronized with the FUS sonication, was also demonstrated both in ET rats and in naïve rats when treated in the medulla oblongata region. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the feasibly for obtaining significant tremor reduction or tremor suppression induced by non-thermal, non-invasive, reversible focused-ultrasound.
BACKGROUND: Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most common movement disorders of adults, characterized by postural and kinetic tremor. With drug treatment only partially efficient, new treatments are being developed. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of non-thermal focused-ultrasound (FUS) to induce tremor-suppression in an ET rat model. METHODS:Harmaline-induced tremorrats were treated with FUS along the inferior olivary (IO) system. EMG was recorded continuously during treatment in order to quantify FUS-induced tremor suppression. T2-weighted MRI was performed immediately following treatment and periodically thereafter. RESULTS:FUS treatment at an intensity of 27.2 W/cm2 (Isppa) induced significant reduction of tremor in 12 out of 13 ET rats. Tremor frequency was reduced from 6.2 ± 2.8 to 2 ± 1 Hz, p < 0.0003. In 6 of the 12 responding rats, tremor was completely suppressed. Response duration was 70 ± 61s, on average. FUS induced motor response, depicted as movement of the tail and/or the limbs synchronized with the FUS sonication, was also demonstrated both in ET rats and in naïve rats when treated in the medulla oblongata region. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the feasibly for obtaining significant tremor reduction or tremor suppression induced by non-thermal, non-invasive, reversible focused-ultrasound.
Authors: John Dell'Italia; Joseph L Sanguinetti; Martin M Monti; Alexander Bystritsky; Nicco Reggente Journal: Front Hum Neurosci Date: 2022-04-25 Impact factor: 3.473