Chronic Deep Brain Stimulation of the Hypothalamic Nucleus in Wistar Rats Alters Circulatory Levels of Corticosterone and Proinflammatory Cytokines

Figure 3

Effect of unilateral vagotomy and deep brain stimulation of hypothalamic nucleus on corticosterone levels in Wistar rats. Corticosterone determination was by RIA assay. Wistar rats received the following experimental procedures; Sham (S): animals were operated on to expose the vagal trunk, without cutting the vagus nerve. Sham plus electrodes/without electric stimulation (S + E/WES). Unilateral vagotomy (UVgX): right vagus nerve was carefully separated from the carotid artery and cut. Unilateral vagotomy plus electrodes/without electric stimulation (UVgX + E/WES). Deep brain stimulation (DBS): animals were implanted bilaterally with two electrodes. Unilateral vagotomy plus deep brain stimulation (UV + DBS). Animals without treatment (C). Experimental groups (𝑛=6 rats) were followedup 21 days and showed significant differences compared to C, S, UVgX, DBS and, UVgX + DBS. Data are expressed as mean ± SE. The differences between means were evaluated with one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s post hoc. Statistical significance was attributed when when 𝑃<0.05. ^†𝑃<0.001 C or S versus UVgX, DBS, UVgX + DBS, S + E/WES, and UVgX + E/WES; ^‡𝑃<0.001 UVgX versus, DBS, UVgX + DBS, S + E/WES, and UVgX + E/WES; ^𝜕𝑃<0.001 DBS versus UVgX + DBS, S + E/WES, and UVgX + E/WES; ^‖𝑃<0.001 UVgX + DBS, S + E/WES, and UVgX + E/WES versus C.