HHS Public Access Author manuscript Author Manuscript
Brain Stimul. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2017 March 01. Published in final edited form as: Brain Stimul. 2016 ; 9(2): 166–173. doi:10.1016/j.brs.2015.11.008.
TRANSCUTANEOUS CERVICAL VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION AMELIORATES ACUTE ISCHEMIC INJURY IN RATS Ilknur Ay, MD, PhD1,*, Rena Nasser, MD1, Bruce Simon, PhD2, and Hakan Ay, MD1,3 1MGH/MIT/HMS
Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
Author Manuscript
2Electrocore
LLC, Basking Ridge, NJ, USA
3Stroke
Service, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Abstract Background—Direct stimulation of the vagus nerve in the neck via surgically implanted electrodes is protective in animal models of stroke. We sought to determine the safety and efficacy of a non-invasive cervical VNS (nVNS) method using surface electrodes applied to the skin overlying the vagus nerve in the neck in a model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).
Author Manuscript
Methods—nVNS was initiated variable times after MCAO hour in rats (n=33). Control animals received sham stimulation (n=33). Infarct volume and functional outcome were assessed on day 7. Brains were processed by immunohistochemistry for microglial activation and cytokine levels. The ability of nVNS to activate the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) was assessed using c-Fos immunohistochemistry. Results—Infarct volume was 43.15±3.36 percent of the contralateral hemisphere (PCH) in control and 28.75±4.22 PCH in nVNS-treated animals (p
Brain Stimul. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2017 March 01. Published in final edited form as: Brain Stimul. 2016 ; 9(2): 166–173. doi:10.1016/j.brs.2015.11.008.
TRANSCUTANEOUS CERVICAL VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION AMELIORATES ACUTE ISCHEMIC INJURY IN RATS Ilknur Ay, MD, PhD1,*, Rena Nasser, MD1, Bruce Simon, PhD2, and Hakan Ay, MD1,3 1MGH/MIT/HMS
Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
Author Manuscript
2Electrocore
LLC, Basking Ridge, NJ, USA
3Stroke
Service, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Abstract Background—Direct stimulation of the vagus nerve in the neck via surgically implanted electrodes is protective in animal models of stroke. We sought to determine the safety and efficacy of a non-invasive cervical VNS (nVNS) method using surface electrodes applied to the skin overlying the vagus nerve in the neck in a model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).
Author Manuscript
Methods—nVNS was initiated variable times after MCAO hour in rats (n=33). Control animals received sham stimulation (n=33). Infarct volume and functional outcome were assessed on day 7. Brains were processed by immunohistochemistry for microglial activation and cytokine levels. The ability of nVNS to activate the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) was assessed using c-Fos immunohistochemistry. Results—Infarct volume was 43.15±3.36 percent of the contralateral hemisphere (PCH) in control and 28.75±4.22 PCH in nVNS-treated animals (p
