Vagus nerve stimulation inhibits harmaline-induced tremor.
Excessive olivo-cerebellar burst-firing occurs during harmaline-induced tremor. This system receives rich sensory inputs, including visceral. We hypothesized that electrical vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) would suppress harmaline tremor, as measured with digitized motion power in the rat. Cervical vagus nerve stimulation suppressed power in the 8-12-Hz tremor range by 40%, whereas sham stimulation was ineffective. This study raises the possibility that activation of various sensory modalities, as well as visceral, may reduce tremor.
Krahl
Scott E
SE
Research and Development Service, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA. scott.krahl@med.va.gov
Martin
Fredricka C
FC
Handforth
Adrian
A
D000818:Animals; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D006246:Harmaline; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D014202:Tremor / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*
D006246:Harmaline