The vagus nerve is the main of parasympathetic autonomic nervous system. Beyond its vegetative functions, possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Initially developed in treatment refractory epilepsy, stimulation (VNS) currently being evaluated several musculoskeletal diseases. VNS can be invasive by placing an electrode around cervical connected to a generator implanted subcutaneo...

Convergence of inputs from extrinsic cardiac nerves [vagus and cardiopulmonary (CPN)] on intrinsic cardiac neurons was investigated in the pig ( Sus scrofa). A segment of the right atrial wall containing epicardial neurons along with attached stumps of the right vagus nerve and CPN was maintained in vitro; intracellular recordings were made from 57 neurons. Three types of neuron were identified...

BACKGROUND Although cervical vagus nerve stimulation is effective for reducing infarct volume in rats, it is not feasible for acute human stroke as it requires surgical incision of the neck. We hypothesized that stimulation of the dermatome in the external ear innervated by the vagus nerve (auricular vagus nerve stimulation; aVNS) reduces infarct volume after transient focal ischemia in rats. ...

Stimulation of the vagus nerve has become an effective method for desynchronizing the highly coherent neural activity typically associated with epileptic seizures. This technique has been used in several animal models of seizures as well as in humans suffering from epilepsy. However, application of this technique has been limited to unilateral stimulation of the vagus nerve, typically delivered...