Efficacy profile of noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation on cortical spreading depression susceptibility and the tissue response in a rat model.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) has recently emerged as a promising therapy for migraine. We previously demonstrated that vagus nerve stimulation inhibits cortical spreading depression (CSD), the electrophysiological event underlying migraine aura and triggering headache; however, the optimal nVNS paradigm has not been defined.

METHODS:

Various intensities and doses of nVNS were tested to improve efficacy on KCl-evoked CSD frequency and electrical threshold of CSD in a validated rat model. Chronic efficacy was evaluated by daily nVNS delivery for four weeks. We also examined the effects of nVNS on neuroinflammation and trigeminovascular activation by western blot and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS:

nVNS suppressed susceptibility to CSD in an intensity-dependent manner. Two 2-minute nVNS 5 min apart afforded the highest efficacy on electrical CSD threshold and frequency of KCl-evoked CSD. Daily nVNS for four weeks did not further enhance efficacy over a single nVNS 20 min prior to CSD. The optimal nVNS also attenuated CSD-induced upregulation of cortical cyclooxygenase-2, calcitonin gene-related peptide in trigeminal ganglia, and c-Fos expression in trigeminal nucleus caudalis.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study provides insight on optimal nVNS parameters to suppress CSD and suggests its benefit on CSD-induced neuroinflammation and trigeminovascular activation in migraine treatment.

• Authors: Tzu-Ting Liu, Andreia Morais, Tsubasa Takizawa, Inge Mulder, Bruce J Simon, Shih-Pin Chen, Shuu-Jiun Wang, Cenk Ayata, Jiin-Cherng Yen
• Journal: The journal of headache and pain (J Headache Pain) Vol. 23 Issue 1 Pg. 12 (Jan 21 2022) ISSN: 1129-2377 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 35062860 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2022. The Author(s).

Topics

• Animals
• Cortical Spreading Depression
• Headache
• Migraine Disorders (therapy)
• Neuroinflammatory Diseases
• Rats
• Vagus Nerve Stimulation