biostudies-literatureChang YCNIGMS NIH HHS1389-1404https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10164362biostudies-literatureUnknown15(6)<h4>Background</h4>Vagal reflexes regulate homeostasis in visceral organs and systems through afferent and efferent neurons and nerve fibers. Small, unmyelinated, C-type afferents comprise over 80% of fibers in the vagus and form the sensory arc of autonomic reflexes of the gut, lungs, heart and vessels and the immune system. Selective bioelectronic activation of C-afferents could be used to mechanistically study and treat diseases of peripheral organs in which vagal reflexes are involved, but it has not been achieved.<h4>Methods</h4>We stimulated the vagus in rats and mice using trains of kHz-frequency stimuli. Stimulation effects were assessed using neuronal c-Fos expression, physiological and nerve fiber responses, optogenetic and computational methods.<h4>Results</h4>Intermittent kHz sBrain stimulationkHz-frequency electrical stimulation selectively activates small, unmyelinated vagus afferents.PMC10164362R35 GM118182Lin QMughrabi IAhmed UTracey KJZanos SAshville JGuo TJayaprakash NGerber MAl-Abed YDaytz AChang YCGabalski AHWu YCAbbas ADokos SDatta-Chaudhuri TRieth LfalsekHz-frequency electrical stimulation selectively activates small, unmyelinated vagus afferents.<h4>Background</h4>Vagal reflexes regulate homeostasis in visceral organs and systems through afferent and efferent neurons and nerve fibers. Small, unmyelinated, C-type afferents comprise over 80% of fibers in the vagus and form the sensory arc of autonomic reflexes of the gut, lungs, heart and vessels and the immune system. Selective bioelectronic activation of C-afferents could be used to mechanistically study and treat diseases of peripheral organs in which vagal reflexes are involved, but it has not been achieved.<h4>Methods</h4>We stimulated the vagus in rats and mice using trains of kHz-frequency stimuli. Stimulation effects were assessed using neuronal c-Fos expression, physiological and nerve fiber responses, optogenetic and computational methods.<h4>Results</h4>Intermittent kHz s2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Nov-Dec2025-04-21T22:39:08.056Z2025-04-05T18:50:53.368ZS-EPMC101643623624102510.1016/j.brs.2022.09.015