Electroacupuncture improves swallowing function in a post-stroke dysphagia mouse model by activating the motor cortex inputs to the nucleus tractus solitarii through the parabrachial nuclei.

ABSTRACT: As a traditional medical therapy, stimulation at the Lianquan (CV23) acupoint, located at the depression superior to the hyoid bone, has been shown to be beneficial in dysphagia. However, little is known about the neurological mechanism by which this peripheral stimulation approach treats for dysphagia. Here, we first identified a cluster of excitatory neurons in layer 5 (L5) of the primary motor cortex (M1) that can regulate swallowing function in male mice by modulating mylohyoid activity. Moreover, we found that focal ischemia in the M1 mimicked the post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) pathology, as indicated by impaired water consumption and electromyographic responses in the mylohyoid. This dysfunction could be rescued by electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation at the CV23 acupoint (EA-CV23) in a

SUBMITTER: Yao L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9925820 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature