Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation augments postprandial inhibition of ghrelin

Abstract Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) facilitates weight loss in animals and patients treated with VNS for depression or epilepsy. Likewise, chronic transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS) reduces weight gain and improves glucose tolerance in Zucker diabetic fatty rats. If these metabolic effects of t...

पूर्ण विवरण

ग्रंथसूची विवरण
मुख्य लेखकों: Erica M. Kozorosky, Cristina H. Lee, Jessica G. Lee, Valeria Nunez Martinez, Leandra E. Padayachee, Harald M. Stauss
स्वरूप: लेख
भाषा:English
प्रकाशित: Wiley 2022-04-01
श्रृंखला:Physiological Reports
विषय:
ऑनलाइन पहुंच:https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.15253
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author Erica M. Kozorosky
Cristina H. Lee
Jessica G. Lee
Valeria Nunez Martinez
Leandra E. Padayachee
Harald M. Stauss
author_facet Erica M. Kozorosky
Cristina H. Lee
Jessica G. Lee
Valeria Nunez Martinez
Leandra E. Padayachee
Harald M. Stauss
author_sort Erica M. Kozorosky
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) facilitates weight loss in animals and patients treated with VNS for depression or epilepsy. Likewise, chronic transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS) reduces weight gain and improves glucose tolerance in Zucker diabetic fatty rats. If these metabolic effects of taVNS observed in rats translate to humans is unknown. Therefore, the hypothesis of this study was that acute application of taVNS affects glucotropic and orexigenic hormones which could potentially facilitate weight loss and improve glucose tolerance if taVNS were applied chronically. In two single‐blinded randomized cross‐over protocols, blood glucose levels, plasma concentrations of insulin, C‐peptide, glucagon, leptin, and ghrelin, together with heart rate variability and baroreceptor‐heart rate reflex sensitivity were determined before and after taVNS (left ear, 10 Hz, 300 µs, 2.0–2.5 mA, 30 min) or sham‐taVNS (electrode attached to ear with the stimulator turned off). In a first protocol, subjects (n = 16) were fasted throughout the protocol and in a second protocol, subjects (n = 10) received a high‐calorie beverage (220 kCal) after the first blood sample, just before initiation of taVNS or sham‐taVNS. No significant effects of taVNS on heart rate variability and baroreceptor‐heart rate reflex sensitivity and only minor effects on glucotropic hormones were observed. However, in the second protocol taVNS significantly lowered postprandial plasma ghrelin levels (taVNS: −115.5 ± 28.3 pg/ml vs. sham‐taVNS: −51.2 ± 30.6 pg/ml, p < 0.05). This finding provides a rationale for follow‐up studies testing the hypothesis that chronic application of taVNS may reduce food intake through inhibition of ghrelin and, therefore, may indirectly improve glucose tolerance through weight loss.
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spelling doaj.art-f34b79a2e2d742efa15b2750e899c51c2022-12-22T02:20:51ZengWileyPhysiological Reports2051-817X2022-04-01108n/an/a10.14814/phy2.15253Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation augments postprandial inhibition of ghrelinErica M. Kozorosky0Cristina H. Lee1Jessica G. Lee2Valeria Nunez Martinez3Leandra E. Padayachee4Harald M. Stauss5Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine Las Cruces New Mexico USABurrell College of Osteopathic Medicine Las Cruces New Mexico USABurrell College of Osteopathic Medicine Las Cruces New Mexico USABurrell College of Osteopathic Medicine Las Cruces New Mexico USABurrell College of Osteopathic Medicine Las Cruces New Mexico USABurrell College of Osteopathic Medicine Las Cruces New Mexico USAAbstract Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) facilitates weight loss in animals and patients treated with VNS for depression or epilepsy. Likewise, chronic transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS) reduces weight gain and improves glucose tolerance in Zucker diabetic fatty rats. If these metabolic effects of taVNS observed in rats translate to humans is unknown. Therefore, the hypothesis of this study was that acute application of taVNS affects glucotropic and orexigenic hormones which could potentially facilitate weight loss and improve glucose tolerance if taVNS were applied chronically. In two single‐blinded randomized cross‐over protocols, blood glucose levels, plasma concentrations of insulin, C‐peptide, glucagon, leptin, and ghrelin, together with heart rate variability and baroreceptor‐heart rate reflex sensitivity were determined before and after taVNS (left ear, 10 Hz, 300 µs, 2.0–2.5 mA, 30 min) or sham‐taVNS (electrode attached to ear with the stimulator turned off). In a first protocol, subjects (n = 16) were fasted throughout the protocol and in a second protocol, subjects (n = 10) received a high‐calorie beverage (220 kCal) after the first blood sample, just before initiation of taVNS or sham‐taVNS. No significant effects of taVNS on heart rate variability and baroreceptor‐heart rate reflex sensitivity and only minor effects on glucotropic hormones were observed. However, in the second protocol taVNS significantly lowered postprandial plasma ghrelin levels (taVNS: −115.5 ± 28.3 pg/ml vs. sham‐taVNS: −51.2 ± 30.6 pg/ml, p < 0.05). This finding provides a rationale for follow‐up studies testing the hypothesis that chronic application of taVNS may reduce food intake through inhibition of ghrelin and, therefore, may indirectly improve glucose tolerance through weight loss.https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.15253baroreceptor‐heart rate reflex sensitivityC‐peptideglucagonheart rate variabilityinsulinRMSSD
spellingShingle Erica M. Kozorosky
Cristina H. Lee
Jessica G. Lee
Valeria Nunez Martinez
Leandra E. Padayachee
Harald M. Stauss
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation augments postprandial inhibition of ghrelin
Physiological Reports
baroreceptor‐heart rate reflex sensitivity
C‐peptide
glucagon
heart rate variability
insulin
RMSSD
title Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation augments postprandial inhibition of ghrelin
title_full Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation augments postprandial inhibition of ghrelin
title_fullStr Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation augments postprandial inhibition of ghrelin
title_full_unstemmed Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation augments postprandial inhibition of ghrelin
title_short Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation augments postprandial inhibition of ghrelin
title_sort transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation augments postprandial inhibition of ghrelin
topic baroreceptor‐heart rate reflex sensitivity
C‐peptide
glucagon
heart rate variability
insulin
RMSSD
url https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.15253
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