Measuring and modeling the effects of vagus nerve stimulation on heart rate and laryngeal muscles

Bioelectronic Medicine

Research Article

Eric D. Musselman¹  William J. Huffman¹  Nicole A. Pelot¹  Warren M. Grill² 

[1] Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Fitzpatrick CIEMAS, Box 90281, Room 1427, 101 Science Drive, 27708-0281, Durham, NC, USA;Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Fitzpatrick CIEMAS, Box 90281, Room 1427, 101 Science Drive, 27708-0281, Durham, NC, USA;Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham, USA;Department of Neurobiology Engineering, Duke University, Durham, USA;Department of Neurosurgery Engineering, Duke University, Durham, USA;

关键词: Vagus nerve stimulation;    Cardiac function;    Laryngeal muscle;    Computational models;    Dynamic range;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s42234-023-00107-4

 received in 2022-12-29, accepted in 2023-02-08,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundReduced heart rate (HR) during vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is associated with therapy for heart failure, but stimulation frequency and amplitude are limited by patient tolerance. An understanding of physiological responses to parameter adjustments would allow differential control of therapeutic and side effects. To investigate selective modulation of the physiological responses to VNS, we quantified the effects and interactions of parameter selection on two physiological outcomes: one related to therapy (reduced HR) and one related to side effects (laryngeal muscle EMG).MethodsWe applied a broad range of stimulation parameters (mean pulse rates (MPR), intra-burst frequencies, and amplitudes) to the vagus nerve of anesthetized mice. We leveraged the in vivo recordings to parameterize and validate computational models of HR and laryngeal muscle activity across amplitudes and temporal patterns of VNS. We constructed a finite element model of excitation of fibers within the mouse cervical vagus nerve.ResultsHR decreased with increased amplitude, increased MPR, and decreased intra-burst frequency. EMG increased with increased MPR. Preferential HR effects over laryngeal EMG effects required combined adjustments of amplitude and MPR. The model of HR responses highlighted contributions of ganglionic filtering to VNS-evoked changes in HR at high stimulation frequencies. Overlap in activation thresholds between small and large modeled fibers was consistent with the overlap in dynamic ranges of related physiological measures (HR and EMG).ConclusionThe present study provides insights into physiological responses to VNS required for informed parameter adjustment to modulate selectively therapeutic effects and side effects.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

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