ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the effect of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on the autophagy in penumbra of rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Methods:A total of 56 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control group (n = 14), sham group (n = 14), model group (n = 14) and VNS group (n = 14). The model group and VNS group accepted MCAO for one hour, then reperfusion, and VNS group accepted VNS in the left as MCAO for 0.5 hour. Their infarct volume was detected with TTC staining, neurological impairment was assessed with Longa's score, and the expression of Beclin-1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-II/I, phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (P-AMPK) and silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (Sirt1) were detected with Western blotting 24 hours after reperfusion. Results:Compared with the sham group, the infarct volume and Longa's score increased in the model group, while the expression of Beclin-1, LC3-II/I, P-AMPK and Sirt1 decreased significantly (P < 0.001). Compared with the model group, the infarct volume and Longa's score reduced (P < 0.05) in VNS group, while the expression of Beclin-1, LC3-II/I, P-AMPK and Sirt1 increased significantly (P < 0.001). Conclusion:VNS may alleviate cerebral ischemic injury in rats through AMPK-Sirt1 pathway.