Functional vagotopy in the cervical vagus nerve of the domestic pig: implications for the study of vagus nerve stimulation.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Given current clinical interest in vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), there are surprisingly few studies characterizing the anatomy of the vagus nerve in large animal models as it pertains to on-and off-target engagement of local fibers. We sought to address this gap by evaluating vagal anatomy in the pig, whose vagus nerve organization and size approximates the human vagus nerve.

Approach

Here we combined microdissection, histology, and immunohistochemistry to provide data on key features across the cervical vagus nerve in a swine model, and compare our results to other animal models (mouse, rat, dog, non-human primate) and humans.

Main results

In a swine model we quantified the nerve diameter, number and diameter of fascicles, and distance of fascicles from th

SUBMITTER: Settell ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7306215 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature