Vagal nerve stimulation started just prior to reperfusion limits infarct size and no-reflow

• Published in: Basic research in cardiology 2015-09, Vol.110 (5), p.508-508, Article 51
• Main Authors: Uitterdijk, André, Yetgin, Tuncay, te Lintel Hekkert, Maaike, Sneep, Stefan, Krabbendam-Peters, Ilona, van Beusekom, Heleen M. M., Fischer, Trent M., Cornelussen, Richard N., Manintveld, Olivier C., Merkus, Daphne, Duncker, Dirk J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cardiology; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Myocardial Infarction - physiopathology; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury - physiopathology; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury - prevention & control; Original Contribution; Sus scrofa; Vagus Nerve Stimulation - methods
• ISSN: 0300-8428; 1435-1803
• DOI: 10.1007/s00395-015-0508-3

Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) started prior to, or during, ischemia has been shown to reduce infarct size. Here, we investigated the effect of VNS when started just prior to, and continued during early, reperfusion on infarct size and no-reflow and studied the underlying mechanisms. For this purpose, swine (13 VNS, 10 sham) underwent 45 min mid-LAD occlusion followed by 120 min of reperfusion. VNS was started 5 min prior to reperfusion and continued until 15 min of reperfusion. Area at risk, area of no-reflow (% of infarct area) and infarct size (% of area at risk), circulating cytokines, and regional myocardial leukocyte influx were assessed after 120 min of reperfusion. VNS significantly reduced infarct size from 67 ± 2 % in sham to 54 ± 5 % and area of no-reflow from 54 ± 6 % in sham to 32 ± 6 %. These effects were accompanied by reductions in neutrophil (~40 %) and macrophage (~60 %) infiltration in the infarct area (all p