Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation enhances structural and functional remodeling in sensorimotor networks following intracerebral hemorrhage in rats
Abstract Background Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) leads to severe neurological deficits by disrupting brain structure and function, particularly in the sensorimotor cortex. Effective interventions to promote post-ICH brain remodeling remain limited. This study investigated the effects of transcutan...
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2025-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-025-01700-1 |
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| author | Jun Zhang Zengyu Zhang Lichao Wei Dewen Ru Meihua Wang Pengfei Fu Weijian Yang Gang Wu Lei Yang Caihua Xi Xiangru Ye Yuwen Zhang He Wang Jin Hu Qiang Yuan |
| author_facet | Jun Zhang Zengyu Zhang Lichao Wei Dewen Ru Meihua Wang Pengfei Fu Weijian Yang Gang Wu Lei Yang Caihua Xi Xiangru Ye Yuwen Zhang He Wang Jin Hu Qiang Yuan |
| author_sort | Jun Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) leads to severe neurological deficits by disrupting brain structure and function, particularly in the sensorimotor cortex. Effective interventions to promote post-ICH brain remodeling remain limited. This study investigated the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on structural and functional remodeling in the sensorimotor networks of rats with ICH, using multi-scale analyses spanning micro-, meso-, and macro-levels. Methods A rat model of left basal ganglia ICH was established, followed by taVNS intervention. Structural remodeling was assessed through histology, immunofluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy. Functional remodeling was evaluated using fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and degree centrality (DC) analyses. Results taVNS enhanced myelin repair and axonal remodeling, indicated by increased myelin basic protein (MBP) expression, reduced dephosphorylated neurofilament protein (SMI-32), and partial restoration of synaptic ultrastructure. Functional imaging showed significant longitudinal increases in zfALFF and zDC values in sensorimotor regions, including the primary and secondary motor cortices, which negatively correlated with modified neurological severity scores (mNSS). Conclusion taVNS promotes structural and functional remodeling in the sensorimotor cortex after ICH, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for neurological recovery. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-662b41a40e2642d180cc845ff0109b9f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1743-0003 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation |
| spelling | doaj-art-662b41a40e2642d180cc845ff0109b9f2025-08-20T03:42:23ZengBMCJournal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation1743-00032025-07-0122111510.1186/s12984-025-01700-1Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation enhances structural and functional remodeling in sensorimotor networks following intracerebral hemorrhage in ratsJun Zhang0Zengyu Zhang1Lichao Wei2Dewen Ru3Meihua Wang4Pengfei Fu5Weijian Yang6Gang Wu7Lei Yang8Caihua Xi9Xiangru Ye10Yuwen Zhang11He Wang12Jin Hu13Qiang Yuan14Department of Neurosurgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Neurology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityInstitute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan UniversityInstitute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityAbstract Background Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) leads to severe neurological deficits by disrupting brain structure and function, particularly in the sensorimotor cortex. Effective interventions to promote post-ICH brain remodeling remain limited. This study investigated the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on structural and functional remodeling in the sensorimotor networks of rats with ICH, using multi-scale analyses spanning micro-, meso-, and macro-levels. Methods A rat model of left basal ganglia ICH was established, followed by taVNS intervention. Structural remodeling was assessed through histology, immunofluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy. Functional remodeling was evaluated using fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and degree centrality (DC) analyses. Results taVNS enhanced myelin repair and axonal remodeling, indicated by increased myelin basic protein (MBP) expression, reduced dephosphorylated neurofilament protein (SMI-32), and partial restoration of synaptic ultrastructure. Functional imaging showed significant longitudinal increases in zfALFF and zDC values in sensorimotor regions, including the primary and secondary motor cortices, which negatively correlated with modified neurological severity scores (mNSS). Conclusion taVNS promotes structural and functional remodeling in the sensorimotor cortex after ICH, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for neurological recovery.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-025-01700-1Intracerebral hemorrhageSensorimotor networksTaVNSNeuroplasticityBrain remodeling |
| spellingShingle | Jun Zhang Zengyu Zhang Lichao Wei Dewen Ru Meihua Wang Pengfei Fu Weijian Yang Gang Wu Lei Yang Caihua Xi Xiangru Ye Yuwen Zhang He Wang Jin Hu Qiang Yuan Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation enhances structural and functional remodeling in sensorimotor networks following intracerebral hemorrhage in rats Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation Intracerebral hemorrhage Sensorimotor networks TaVNS Neuroplasticity Brain remodeling |
| title | Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation enhances structural and functional remodeling in sensorimotor networks following intracerebral hemorrhage in rats |
| title_full | Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation enhances structural and functional remodeling in sensorimotor networks following intracerebral hemorrhage in rats |
| title_fullStr | Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation enhances structural and functional remodeling in sensorimotor networks following intracerebral hemorrhage in rats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation enhances structural and functional remodeling in sensorimotor networks following intracerebral hemorrhage in rats |
| title_short | Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation enhances structural and functional remodeling in sensorimotor networks following intracerebral hemorrhage in rats |
| title_sort | transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation enhances structural and functional remodeling in sensorimotor networks following intracerebral hemorrhage in rats |
| topic | Intracerebral hemorrhage Sensorimotor networks TaVNS Neuroplasticity Brain remodeling |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-025-01700-1 |
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