Aim Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive technique showing improvement effects on Parkinson’s disease (PD). Multiple microRNAs (miRs) are dys-expressed during the progression of PD. In the current study, the potential involvement of miRs in the anti-PD effects of rTMS was explored.Methods PD symptoms were induced in mice with 6-OHDA. The expression profile of miRs influenced by rTMS in PD mice was detected by microarray technique and validated by RT-qPCR detection. The PD mice were treated with rTMS and the changes in cognitive behaviors, substantia nigra neuron number, brain histology, and Aβ1-42 level were detected. The activity of miR-409-3p/PDHB axis was also detected to preliminarily explain the interaction between miRs and rTMS.Results The detection of microarray showed that 266 miRs were dys-expressed in PD mice after the administration of rTMS, including 101 up-regulated ones and 146 down-regulated ones. With validation by RT-qPCR detection, miR-409-3p was selected for subsequent assays. Administrations of rTMS improved cognitive behaviors of mice, increased neuron number, and attenuated brain injuries induced by 6-OHDA. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) level of Aβ1-42 was induced, while the brain level of Aβ1-42 was suppressed by rTMS. Regarding miR-409-3p/PDHB axis, rTMS administrations suppressed miR-409-3p level and increased the expression of PDHB.Conclusion Administrations of rTMS showed considerable protective effects on brain tissues against PD-induced injuries, which was associated with the changes in miR levels. The current study demonstrated that the inhibition of miR-409-3p by rTMS contributed to the attenuation of PD by inducing PDHB.
Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) has been universally detected in environmental media and animals, but its damage to ovarian function and mechanism is still unclear, and melatonin has been shown to improve mammalian ovarian function. This study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of BDE-209 on the ovary and tried to improve ovarian function with melatonin. Herein, BDE-209 was administered orally to female SD rats for 60 days. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, HE staining, transcriptome analysis, qPCR and immunohistochemical staining were used to explore and verify the potential mechanism. We found that BDE-209 exposure had effects on the ovary, as shown by abnormal changes in the estrous cycle, hormone levels and ovarian reserve function in rats, while increasing the proportion of collagen fibres in ovarian tissue. In terms of mechanism, cuproptosis, a form of cell death, was identified to play a crucial role in BDE-209-induced ovarian dysfunction, with the phenotype manifested as copper salt accumulation in ovary, downregulation of glutathione pathway metabolism and copper transfer molecule ( ATP7A/B ), and upregulation of FDX1 , lipoic acid pathway ( LIAS, LIPT1 ), pyruvate dehydrogenase complex components (DLAT, PDHB, PDHA1 ), and copper transfer molecule ( SLC31A1 ). Furthermore, possible interventions were explored. Notably, a supplement with melatonin has a repair effect on the damage to ovarian function by reversing the gene expression of cuproptosis-involved molecules. Overall, this study revealed that cuproptosis is involved in BDE-209-induced ovarian damage and the beneficial effect of melatonin on ovarian copper damage, providing evidence for the prevention and control of female reproductive damage induced by BDE-209.