Abstract
The effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and middle latency responses (MLR) and on neuroanatomical structures in the auditory tract in rats were investigated before and after 1 week exposed to 2010 stimuli at 25Hz repetitive train pulses transcranial magnetic stimulation level (1.6 tesla instrument output) with a magnetic coil positioned over the cranium. (1) The mean latencies and amplitudes of ABR of the positive waves P1, P2, P3 and P4 showed individual changes in exposed rats, but the changes in the latencies and amplitudes by rTMS were statistically insignificant. (2) The mean latencies and amplitudes of Na, Pa and Nb of the post exposed MLR were not significantly different from the pre exposed. Light microscopic examination of the cochlear nucleus, brainstem sections and cortex of temporal lobe possible which are sources of waves of the ABR and MLR, showed no rTMS-related changes in cellular organization or histological damage. In conclusion, no deleterious effects of rTMS were observed on the peripheral and central auditory system of rats after high-frequency repetitive train pulses transcranial magnetic stimulation.
