Neurochemical effects of vagus nerve stimulation in humans. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

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.

publication date

  • June 26, 1992

Research

keywords

  • Amino Acids
  • Biogenic Amines
  • Epilepsy, Complex Partial
  • Hormones
  • Vagus Nerve

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0026630959

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/s0006-8993(10)80038-1

PubMed ID

  • 1504837

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 583

issue

  • 1-2