Neural Regeneration Research (Jan 2015)

Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve protects against cerebral ischemic injury through an anti-infammatory mechanism

  • Yao-xian Xiang,
  • Wen-xin Wang,
  • Zhe Xue,
  • Lei Zhu,
  • Sheng-bao Wang,
  • Zheng-hui Sun

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/1673-5374.155430
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 4
pp. 576 – 582

Abstract

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Vagus nerve stimulation exerts protective effects against ischemic brain injury; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia was established using the occlusion method, and the right vagus nerve was given electrical stimulation (constant current of 0.5 mA; pulse width, 0.5 ms; frequency, 20 Hz; duration, 30 seconds; every 5 minutes for a total of 60 minutes) 30 minutes, 12 hours, and 1, 2, 3, 7 and 14 days after surgery. Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve substantially reduced infarct volume, improved neurological function, and decreased the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-and interleukin- 6 in rats with focal cerebral ischemia. The experimental findings indicate that the neuroprotective effect of vagus nerve stimulation following cerebral ischemia may be associated with the inhibition of tumor necrosis factor- and interleukin-6 expression.

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