Neurochemical effects of vagus nerve stimulation in humans.
An implanted stimulating device chronically stimulated the left cervical vagus nerve in epileptic patients. Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of free and total gamma-aminobutyric acid, homovanillic acid, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, aspartate, glutamate, asparagine, serine, glutamine, glycine, phosphoethanolamine, taurine, alanine, tyrosine, ethanolamine, valine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, vasoactive intestinal peptide, beta-endorphin, and somatostatin were measured before and after 2 months of chronic stimulation in six patients. Significant increases were seen in homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in three patients, and significant decreases in aspartate were seen in five patients. These changes were associated with a decrease in seizure frequency.
Hammond
E J
EJ
Neurology Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, FL 32608-1197.
Uthman
B M
BM
Wilder
B J
BJ
Ben-Menachem
E
E
Hamberger
A
A
Hedner
T
T
Ekman
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D017029:Epilepsy, Complex Partial / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006728:Hormones / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*
D000596:Amino Acids; D001679:Biogenic Amines; D006728:Hormones