低出力光の中枢神経疾患治療ヘの応用：拡延性脱分極の制御

摘要

Anoxic depolarization (AD),which is caused by ischemia/hypoxia in brain, is known to trigger neuronal cell death. Energy restoration would be needed for preventing the occurrence of AD and resultant cell death. Photobiomodulation therapy, in which low-intensity light with a specific wavelength is used for mitochondria, can enhance energy production in neuronal cells under pathophysiological conditions. In this study, we examined whether visible (665 nm) or near-infrared (808 nm) laser irradiation can control the occurrence of AD in rat brain. At both wavelengths, the onset of AD was significantly delayed in the light-treated hemisphere when compared with that in the non-treated hemisphere (n=8). The spreading area of AD was also significantly smaller in the light-treated hemisphere than in the non-treated hemisphere. These results suggest that photobiomodulation therapy can control AD in the brain, which is probably due to an increase in ATP by laser irradiation.