AIM: To investigate the therapeutic effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on calcium and glutamate excitotoxicity caused by ischemia?reperfusion (IR).

MATERIAL and METHODS: The IR model was generated by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. tDCS treatment was applied at 1 mA for 30 min daily at the 2^nd, 24^th, and 48^th h of IR. The motor and cognitive functions and the concentrations of Ca²⁺, glutamate, and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) in the hippocampus tissues were evaluated.

RESULTS: Results showed a reduction in motor and cognitive functions in the IR group compared with that in the sham group, whereas these functions increased in the IR+tDCS group compared with those in the IR group. Ca²⁺, glutamate, and NMDAR concentrations were higher in the IR group than in the sham group but lower in the IR+tDCS group than in the IR group.

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that tDCS treatment improves motor and cognitive dysfunctions after IR and exerts therapeutic effects on learning and memory through the regulation of Ca²⁺ and glutamate excitotoxicity.