title: Neurochemical effects of vagus nerve stimulation in humans.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, FL 32608-1197.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Uthman
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Wilder
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ben-Menachem
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamberger
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hedner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ekman
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D001679:Biogenic Amines; D006728:Hormones