Vagal Nerve Stimulation Markedly Improves Long-Term Survival After Chronic Heart Failure in Rats

Abstract

Background-Diminished cardiac vagal activity and higher heart rate predict a high mortality rate of chronic heart failure (CHF) after myocardial infarction. We investigated the effects of chronic electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve on cardiac remodeling and long-term survival in an animal model of CHF after large myocardial infarction. Methods and Results-Two weeks after the ligation of the left coronary artery, surviving rats were randomized to vagaland sham-stimulated groups. Using an implantable miniature radio-controlled electrical stimulator, we stimulated the right vagal nerve of CHF rats for 6 weeks. The intensity of electrical stimulation was adjusted for each rat, so that the heart rate was lowered by 20 to 30 beats per minute.

Alteration of Cholinergic Anti‐Inflammatory Pathway in Rat With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy–Modified Electrophysiological Function of Heart

“…Zuanetti et al reported that the protective effect of vagal stimulation against reperfusion ventricular fibrillation is mediated by the decreased heart rate; however, they also found no difference in occurrence of complex reperfusion arrhythmias between neutrally intact and postvagotomy animals 11. Additionally, vagal nerve stimulation prevented pumping failure and cardiac remodeling in chronic heart failure rats with ligation of the left coronary artery and improved their long‐term survival 12. Our present study also showed that eliciting CAP during ICM modulates the cardiac parasympathetic/sympathetic ratio, and that, in turn, decreased the arrhythmia score of PES‐induced ventricular arrhythmia.…”

Combined administration of anisodamine and neostigmine produces anti-shock effects: involvement of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

“…Activation of this anti-inflammatory pathway can be achieved by the following: 1) direct stimulation of the vagus nerve [16,17] , 2) the use of nicotine or nicotinic agonists (GTS-21, CAP55) to activate the α7nAChR [18][19][20] , and 3) the use of cholinesterase inhibitors (physostigmine, galantamine) [21][22][23] .…”

The strange case of the ear and the heart: The auricular vagus nerve and its influence on cardiac control

“…VNS has also been investigated in animal models of chronic heart failure, a condition characterised by a sustained increase in sympathetic drive and a concurrent withdrawal of parasympathetic activity (Triposkiadis et al, 2009). A sustained improvement in cardiac function and heart failure symptoms has been demonstrated as a result of VNS (Hamann et al, 2013;Kusunose et al, 2014;Li et al, 2004;Sabbah et al, 2011;Zhang et al, 2009). …”