ArticleNeuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
Low voltage vagal nerve stimulation reduces bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs through catecholamine release.
Article in Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 30 citations in OpenAlex.
- Vagus nerve stimulation as a potential treatment for acute asthmatic bronchoconstriction: a systematic review.Frontiers in physiology · 2025Pooled it
- Chronic migraine headache prevention with noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation: The EVENT study.Neurology · 2016Trial
- A Review of Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Disease: Comprehensive Theory and Evidence for Mechanisms of Action.Comprehensive physiology · 2026Review
- Non-invasive neuromodulation for alleviating dyspnoea: protocol for a feasibility sham-controlled randomised trial.BMJ open · 2025Article
- Cardiovascular function and autonomic regulation in urethane-anesthetized and conscious mice.American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology · 2025Article
- Analgesic Effect of Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Oxaliplatin-induced Peripheral Neuropathic Pain in a Rodent Model.Experimental neurobiology · 2024Article
- Neuromodulation Strategies to Reduce Inflammation and Improve Lung Complications in COVID-19 Patients.Frontiers in neurology · 2022Review
- HMGB1: A Potential Target of Nervus Vagus Stimulation in Pediatric SARS-CoV-2-Induced ALI/ARDS.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2022Article
- Selective Neuromodulation of the Vagus Nerve.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2021Review
- Optogenetic Control of the Peripheral Nervous System.Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine · 2019Review
- Breath of Life: The Respiratory Vagal Stimulation Model of Contemplative Activity.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2018Article
- Current Approaches to Neuromodulation in Primary Headaches: Focus on Vagal Nerve and Sphenopalatine Ganglion Stimulation.Current pain and headache reports · 2016Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveElectrical stimulation of the vagus nerve at relatively high voltages (e.g., >10 V) can induce bronchoconstriction. However, low voltage (≤2 V) vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) can attenuate histamine-invoked bronchoconstriction. Here, we identify the mechanism for this inhibition.
methodsIn urethanea-nesthetized guinea pigs, bipolar electrodes were attached to both vagus nerves and changes in pulmonary inflation pressure were recorded in response to i.v. histamine and during VNS. The attenuation of the histamine response by low-voltage VNS was then examined in the presence of pharmacologic inhibitors or nerve ligation.
resultsLow-voltage VNS attenuated histamine-induced bronchoconstriction (4.4 ± 0.3 vs. 3.2 ± 0.2 cm H(2) O, p < 0.01) and remained effective following administration of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, and after sympathetic nerve depletion with guanethidine, but not after the β-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol. Nerve ligation caudal to the electrodes did not block the inhibition but cephalic nerve ligation did. Low-voltage VNS increased circulating epinephrine and norepinephrine without but not with cephalic nerve ligation.
conclusionThese results indicate that low-voltage VNS attenuates histamine-induced bronchoconstriction via activation of afferent nerves, resulting in a systemic increase in catecholamines likely arising from the adrenal medulla.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.