Low-level transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation attenuates cardiac remodelling in a rat model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

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Abstract

Inflammation and fibrosis play a central role in the development of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We previously showed that low-level, transcutaneous stimulation of the vagus nerve at the tragus (LLTS) is anti-inflammatory. We investigated the effect of chronic intermittent LLTS on cardiac inflammation, fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction in a rat model of HFpEF. Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) rats were randomized in 3 groups: low salt (LS, 0.3% NaCl; n=12; control group without stimulation) and high salt (HS, 4% NaCl) with either active (n=18) or sham (n=18) LLTS at 7 weeks of age. After 6 weeks of diet (baseline), sham or active LLTS (20Hz, 2mA, 0.2ms) was implemented for 30 minutes daily for 4 weeks. Echocardiography was performed at baseline and 4 weeks after treatment (endpoint). At endpoint, left ventricle (LV) histology and gene expression were examined. After 6 weeks of diets, HS rats developed hypertension and LV hypertrophy compared to LS rats. At endpoint, LLTS significantly attenuated blood pressure elevation, prevented the deterioration of diastolic function and improved LV circumferential strain, compared to the HS sham group. LV inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrosis were attenuated in the HS active compared to the HS sham group. Pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic genes [tumor necrosis factor, osteopontin, interleukin (IL)-11, IL-18 and IL-23A] were differentially altered in the 2 groups. Chronic intermittent LLTS ameliorates diastolic dysfunction, and attenuates cardiac inflammation and fibrosis in a rat model of HFpEF, suggesting that LLTS may be used clinically as a novel noninvasive neuromodulation therapy in HFpEF.

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Most cited references 31

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Characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of patients with preserved systolic function hospitalized for heart failure: a report from the OPTIMIZE-HF Registry.

Gregg C. Fonarow, Wendy Stough, William T. Abraham … (2007)

We sought to evaluate the characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of patients with preserved and reduced systolic function heart failure (HF). Heart failure with preserved systolic function (PSF) is common but not well understood. This analysis of the OPTIMIZE-HF (Organized Program to Initiate Lifesaving Treatment in Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure) registry compared 20,118 patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and 21,149 patients with PSF (left ventricular ejection fraction [EF] > or =40%). Sixty- to 90-day follow-up was obtained in a pre-specified 10% sample of patients. Analyses of patients with PSF defined as EF >50% were also performed for comparison. Patients with PSF (EF > or =40%) were more likely to be older, female, and Caucasian and to have a nonischemic etiology. Although length of hospital stay was the same in both groups, risk of in-hospital mortality was lower in patients with PSF (EF > or =40%) (2.9% vs. 3.9%; p or =40%) had a similar mortality risk (9.5% vs. 9.8%; p = 0.459) and rehospitalization rates (29.2% vs. 29.9%; p = 0.591) compared with patients with LVSD. Findings were comparable with those with PSF defined as EF >50%. In a risk- and propensity-adjusted model, there were no significant relationships between discharge use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker or beta-blocker and 60- to 90-day mortality and rehospitalization rates in patients with PSF. Data from the OPTIMIZE-HF registry reveal a high prevalence of HF with PSF, and these patients have a similar post-discharge mortality risk and equally high rates of rehospitalization as patients with HF and LVSD. Despite the burden to patients and health care systems, data are lacking on effective management strategies for patients with HF and PSF. (Organized Program To Initiate Lifesaving Treatment In Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure [OPTIMIZE-HF]); http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00344513?order=1; NCT00344513).

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T J Filler, E T Peuker (2001)

Knowledge of the innervation of the outer ear is crucial for surgery in this region. The aim of this study was to describe the system of the auricular nerve supply. On 14 ears of seven cadavers the complete course of the nerve supply was exposed and categorized. A heterogeneous distribution of two cranial branchial nerves and two somatic cervical nerves was found. At the lateral as well as the medial surface the great auricular nerve prevails. No region with triple innervation was found. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation in healthy humans reduces sympathetic nerve activity.

Jennifer A Clancy, David Mary, Klaus Witte … (2015)

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is currently used to treat refractory epilepsy and is being investigated as a potential therapy for a range of conditions, including heart failure, tinnitus, obesity and Alzheimer's disease. However, the invasive nature and expense limits the use of VNS in patient populations and hinders the exploration of the mechanisms involved. We investigated a non-invasive method of VNS through electrical stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve distributed to the skin of the ear--transcutaneous VNS (tVNS) and measured the autonomic effects. The effects of tVNS parameters on autonomic function in 48 healthy participants were investigated using heart rate variability (HRV) and microneurography. tVNS was performed using a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) machine and modified surface electrodes. Participants visited the laboratory once and received either active (200 μs, 30 Hz; n = 34) or sham (n = 14) stimulation. Active tVNS significantly increased HRV in healthy participants (P = 0.026) indicating a shift in cardiac autonomic function toward parasympathetic predominance. Microneurographic recordings revealed a significant decrease in frequency (P = 0.0001) and incidence (P = 0.0002) of muscle sympathetic nerve activity during tVNS. tVNS can increase HRV and reduce sympathetic nerve outflow, which is desirable in conditions characterized by enhanced sympathetic nerve activity, such as heart failure. tVNS can therefore influence human physiology and provide a simple and inexpensive alternative to invasive VNS. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.