ECS, ECT and Parkinson's Disease

Out on Pubmed, from investigators in Shanghai, China is this animal study:

Synergistic effect of electric stimulation and mesenchymal stem cells against Parkinson's disease.

Yang C, Qiu Y, Qing Y, Xu J, Dai W, Hu X, Wu X.Aging (Albany NY). 2020 Aug 24;12. doi: 10.18632/aging.103477. Online ahead of print.PMID: 32836217
The abstract is copied below:
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has known beneficial effects on the core motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), likely through induction of dopamine release and sensitivity of dopamine receptors. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can salvage loss of dopamine in PD through their differentiation into dopaminergic neurons. However, it is not known if combined ECT and MSC transplantation may have a synergistic effect against PD. Here, we showed that ECT significantly increased the differentiation of the transplanted MSCs into dopaminergic neurons in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced mouse model of PD. On the other hand, transplantation of MSCs significantly increased dopamine levels after ECT. Co-application of ECT and MSC transplantation generated a synergistic effect through increases in dopamine and decreases in pro-inflammatory cytokines, resulting in significantly attenuated defect in stepping test and rotational behavior in MPTP-mice. Together, our data suggest that combined ECT and MSC transplantation can be a valuable treatment of PD.
And from the  text:
"ECT appeared to enhance the survival and proliferation of the grafted MSCs, resulting in increases in the number of MSCs after transplantation."
The pdf is here.
This is a fascinating pre-clinical study combining ECS (actually mistakenly called ECT by the authors) and cell transplantation in mice. They demonstrate a remarkable positive synergistic effect.
I feature it here as a reminder of the profound benefits of ECT on both the core motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD), as well as the behavioral symptoms.  IMO, ECT continues to be underutilized in PD; this study is a reminder of that. 
Please see also blog posts of April 12, May 22, June 4, and August 21.

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