Terahertz Photons Up-Regulated Acetylcholine by Increasing the Expression of Choline Acetyltransferase

Acetylcholine (ACH) is a crucial excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system and plays an important role in cognitive function. Terahertz (THz) photons have been shown to enhance neuronal excitability and improve cognitive function in animals. In this study, we examined the impact of terahertz photons on the expression of the excitatory neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACH). Our findings revealed that exposure to terahertz photons led to increased ACH levels in the hippocampus of animals with PTSD, while showing no effect on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Subsequent investigations demonstrated that THz photon irradiation elevated the expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), a pivotal protein involved in acetylcholine synthesis, without affecting acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which is responsible for ACH degradation. These results suggest that the heightened ACH levels may be attributed to the increased expression of ChAT induced by terahertz photon irradiation. This study offers a potential mechanism for the impact of terahertz photons on the nervous system.