Modulation of neuroinflammation and memory dysfunction using percutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The vagus nerve is involved in regulating immunity and resolving inflammation. Current strategies aimed at modulating neuroinflammation and cognitive decline, in many cases, are limited and ineffective.

Objective

We sought to develop a minimally invasive, targeted, vagus nerve stimulation approach (pVNS), and we tested its efficacy with respect to microglial activation and amelioration of cognitive dysfunction following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxemia in mice.

Methods

We stimulated the cervical vagus nerve in mice using an ultrasound-guided needle electrode under sevoflurane anesthesia. The concentric bipolar needle electrode was percutaneously placed adjacent to the carotid sheath and stimulation was verified in real-time using bradycardia as a biomar

SUBMITTER: Huffman WJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6301148 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan - Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature