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Digestive Diseases and Sciences
Published in: Digestive Diseases and Sciences 10/2022

22-01-2022 | Vagus Nerve Stimulation | Original Article

Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Ameliorates Functional Dyspepsia with Depressive-Like Behavior and Inhibits the Hypothalamus–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis in a Rat Model

Authors: Li-wei Hou, Ji-liang Fang, Jin-ling Zhang, Lei Wang, Dong Wu, Jun-ying Wang, Mo-zheng Wu, Pei-jing Rong

Published in: Digestive Diseases and Sciences | Issue 10/2022

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Abstract

Background

The hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis is the most important endocrine system to control irritability response. Functional dyspepsia (FD) is closely related to irritability. This study aimed to preliminarily explore the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) mechanism of auricular vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS) for FD model rats.

Methods

Sprague–Dawley adult male rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, aVNS group, and sham-aVNS group. Except for the normal rats, all other rats were induced into the FD model through tail-clamping stimulation for 3 weeks. Once the rat model was developed successfully, rats in the aVNS group and sham-aVNS group were intervened with aVNS or sham-aVNS for 2 weeks. No intervention was given to rats in the normal and model groups. The effect of aVNS was assessed. The expressions of hippocampal corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1), hypothalamus CRF, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and corticosterone in serum were assessed.

Results

1. Compared with normal rats, model-developing rats showed FD-like behavior. 2. Compared with model rats, rats in the aVNS group showed an improved general condition score and gastric motility, and increased horizontal and vertical motion scores. 3. The release of corticosterone, ACTH in serum, and CRF in the hypothalamus all increased in model rats but decreased with aVNS instead of sham-aVNS. 4. The expression of hippocampus CRHR1 was lower in model rats but higher in the aVNS group.

Conclusion

aVNS ameliorates gastric motility and improves the mental state in the FD-like rat, probably via inhibiting the CRF pathway.
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Metadata
Title
Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Ameliorates Functional Dyspepsia with Depressive-Like Behavior and Inhibits the Hypothalamus–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis in a Rat Model
Authors
Li-wei Hou
Ji-liang Fang
Jin-ling Zhang
Lei Wang
Dong Wu
Jun-ying Wang
Mo-zheng Wu
Pei-jing Rong
Publication date
22-01-2022
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Digestive Diseases and Sciences / Issue 10/2022
Print ISSN: 0163-2116
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2568
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-021-07332-4

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