Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40855793›Full record

ArticleThe Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences2026

Sciatic Nerve Stimulation Mitigates Depression-Like Behaviors and Memory Deficits in Stressed Mice.

Chih-Hao Tien, Pei-Wen Chen, Ya-Hsin Hsiao, Chia-En Wong, Ming-Tse Wu, Ying-Fei Chen, Kuo-Chang Huang, Po-Hsuan Lee, Kun-Chia Chang, Heng-Juei Hsu and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Chih-Hao TienDivision of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
Pei-Wen ChenDepartment of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Ya-Hsin HsiaoDepartment of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Chia-En WongDivision of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
Ming-Tse WuInstitute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Ying-Fei ChenDepartment of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Kuo-Chang HuangDepartment of Neurosurgery, Chiayi Christian Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.
Po-Hsuan LeeDivision of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4034-9234
Kun-Chia ChangDepartment of General Psychiatry, Jianan Psychiatric Center, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0551-1999
Heng-Juei HsuDepartment of Neurosurgery, Tainan Municipal Hospital (Managed by Show Chwan Medical Care Corporation), Tainan, Taiwan.
Jung-Shun LeeDivision of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4268-2161

Funding

National Cheng Kung University Hospital NCKUH-11302022
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Stress causes depression and cognitive decline. With limitations in pharmacotherapy, sciatic nerve stimulation (SNS) offers a promising nondrug alternative. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic efficacy of SNS in mitigating stress-induced depressive behaviors and memory deficits by focusing on astrocytic dysfunction and cellular senescence in the hippocampus. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to the water immersion restraint stress (WIRS) paradigm to induce stress-related behavioral deficits. Behavioral tests assessed locomotion, anxiety, depression-like behavior, and memory. Astrocytic disruption and cellular senescence in the hippocampus were assessed using glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunostaining and senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining. SNS at 20 Hz significantly improved cognitive function and reduced depression-like behavior in WIRS-treated mice. It also restored hippocampal GFAP expression and decreased both SA-β-gal-positive cell accumulation and the expression of senescence markers p16 and p21, suggesting an attenuation of cellular senescence. To further explore the link between cellular senescence and SNS-mediated effects, we administered the anti-senescence agent vitamin C to WIRS mice. While vitamin C alleviated stress-induced hippocampal senescence and depressive behavior, it failed to reverse memory deficits or restore GFAP expression, indicating that the benefits of SNS extend beyond its anti-senescent actions. In summary, SNS effectively counteracts the neurobehavioral consequences of chronic stress by targeting astrocytic dysfunction and cellular senescence. These findings support SNS as a promising, nonpharmacological strategy for treating stress-related depression and cognitive decline. Future studies should explore its clinical translation and broader therapeutic potential.

Indexed as

DepressionMemory DisordersSciatic NerveStress, PsychologicalAnimalsAscorbic AcidAstrocytesBehavior, AnimalCellular SenescenceGlial Fibrillary Acidic ProteinHippocampusMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLAscorbic AcidGlial Fibrillary Acidic Proteindepressionmemory deficitsciatic nerve stimulationstress

Identifiers

PMID40855793
PMCPMC12782250

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Registered trials

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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.