Vagus Nerve

Cardioprotection via brain-gut-heart signalling: GLP-1 activates KATP channels in coronary pericytes

Coronary no-reflow, which impacts roughly half of patients following artery reopening for myocardial infarction, remains a major clinical challenge. Here we demonstrate that the incretin GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) can be used to protect the …

Towards spatially selective efferent neuromodulation: anatomical and functional organization of cardiac fibres in the porcine cervical vagus nerve

Spatially selective vagus nerve stimulation (sVNS) offers a promising approach for addressing heart disease with enhanced precision. Spatially-selective VNS offers a promising solution to induce cardioprotection while mitigating off-target effects by …

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Links Ingestion, Homeostasis, and the Heart

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a gut hormone that plays critical roles in linking ingestion, metabolic homeostasis, and cardiovascular function. Endogenous peripheral GLP-1 exerts its effects either in a paracrine or endocrine fashion, or via …

Organotopic organization of the porcine mid-cervical vagus nerve

Despite detailed characterization of fascicular organization of somatic nerves, the functional anatomy of fascicles evident in human and large mammal cervical vagus nerve is unknown. The vagus nerve is a prime target for intervention in the field of …

Selective neuromodulation of the vagus nerve

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an effective technique for the treatment of refractory epilepsy and shows potential for the treatment of a range of other serious conditions. However, until now stimulation has generally been supramaximal and …

Selective vagus nerve stimulation as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of ARDS: a rationale for neuro-immunomodulation in COVID-19

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the most severe form of acute lung injury. It is induced by sepsis, aspiration, and pneumonia, including that caused by SARS coronavirus and human influenza viruses. The main pathophysiological mechanism …

A circadian clock in the sinus node mediates day-night rhythms in Hcn4 and heart rate

BACKGROUND. Heart rate follows a diurnal variation, and slow heart rhythms occur primarily at night. OBJECTIVE. The lower heart rate during sleep is assumed to be neural in origin, but here we tested whether a day-night difference in intrinsic …

Avoiding off-target effects in electrical stimulation of the cervical vagus nerve - neuroanatomical tracing techniques to study fascicular anatomy of the vagus nerve

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a promising therapy for treatment of various conditions that are resistant to standard medication, such as heart failure, epilepsy, and depression. The vagus nerve is a complex nerve providing afferent and efferent …

X nerve anatomy

Functional fascicular anatomy of the vagus nerve

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) mediates cardioprotection by remote ischaemic conditioning

AIMS. Although the nature of the humoral factor which mediates cardioprotection established by remote ischaemic conditioning (RIc) remains unknown, parasympathetic (vagal) mechanisms appear to play a critical role. As the production and release of …