Chronic deep brain stimulation of the hypothalamic nucleus in wistar rats alters circulatory levels of corticosterone and proinflammatory cytokines.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a therapeutic option for several diseases, but its effects on HPA axis activity and systemic inflammation are unknown. This study aimed to detect circulatory variations of corticosterone and cytokines levels in Wistar rats, after 21 days of DBS-at the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMHvl), unilateral cervical vagotomy (UCVgX), or UCVgX plus DBS. We included the respective control (C) and sham (S) groups (n = 6 rats per group). DBS treated rats had higher levels of TNF-α (120%; P < 0.01) and IFN-γ (305%; P < 0.001) but lower corticosterone concentration (48%; P < 0.001) than C and S. UCVgX animals showed increased corticosterone levels (154%; P < 0.001) versus C and S. UCVgX plus DBS increased IL-1β (402%; P < 0.001), IL-6 (160%; P < 0.001), and corsticosterone (178%; P < 0.001 versus 48%; P < 0.001) compared with the C and S groups. Chronic DBS at VMHvl induced a systemic inflammatory response accompanied by a decrease of HPA axis function. UCVgX rats experienced HPA axis hyperactivity as result of vagus nerve injury; however, DBS was unable to block the HPA axis hyperactivity induced by unilateral cervical vagotomy. Further studies are necessary to explore these findings and their clinical implication.
Laboratory of Neuroimmunoendocrinology, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery "Manuel Velasco Suárez", Avenida Insurgentes Sur 3877, La Fama, Tlalpan, 14269 Mexico City, DF, Mexico.
Juan Manuel
JM
Calleja-Castillo
Dora Luz
DL
De La Cruz-Aguilera
Joaquín
J
Manjarrez
Marco Antonio
MA
Velasco-Velázquez
Gabriel
G
Morales-Espinoza
Julia
J
Moreno-Aguilar
Maria Eugenia
ME
Hernández
Lucinda
L
Aguirre-Cruz
Lenin
L
Pavón
D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003345:Corticosterone