1. Academic Validation
  2. Trigeminal nerve electrical stimulation: An effective arousal treatment for loss of consciousness

Trigeminal nerve electrical stimulation: An effective arousal treatment for loss of consciousness

  • Brain Res Bull. 2021 Apr;169:81-93. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.01.008.
Yaochao Zheng 1 Shaoling Wu 1 Qian Yang 1 Zhen Xu 1 Subo Zhang 1 Shengnuo Fan 1 Cuicui Liu 1 Xiao Li 1 Chao Ma 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Rehabilitation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510030, China.
  • 2 Department of Rehabilitation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510030, China. Electronic address: machao@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Abstract

Background: To determine if trigeminal nerve electrical stimulation (TNS) would be an effective arousal treatment for loss of consciousness (LOC), we applied neuroscientific methods to investigate the role of potential brain circuit and neuropeptide pathway in regulating level of consciousness.

Methods: Consciousness behavioral analysis, Electroencephalogram (EEG) recording, Chemogenetics, Microarray analysis, Milliplex MAP rat peptide assay, Chromatin immune-precipitation (ChIP), Dual-luciferase reporter experiment, Western blot, PCR and Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

Results: TNS can markedly activate the neuronal activities of the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and the spinal trigeminal nucleus (Sp5), as well as improve rat consciousness level and EEG activities. Then we proved that LH activation and upregulated neuropeptide hypocretin are beneficial for promotion of consciousness recovery. We then applied gene microarray experiment and found hypocretin might be mediated by a well-known transcription factor Early growth response gene 1 (EGR1), and the results were confirmed by ChIP and Dual-luciferase reporter experiment.

Conclusion: This study illustrates that TNS is an effective arousal strategy Treatment for LOC state via the activation of Sp5 and LH neurons and upregulation of hypocretin expression.

Keywords

Hypocretin; Lateral hypothalamus; Loss of consciousness; Spinal trigeminal nucleus; Trigeminal nerve electrical stimulation.

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