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September 19, 2026Brain stimulationOpen Access

VNS reduces seizure frequency and duration while improving spatial memory in epileptic rats.

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Population

Pilocarpine-induced rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy

Comparison

Vagus nerve stimulation vs Control, pilocarpine (no VNS), and sham groups

Design

Preclinical

Follow-up

8 weeks

Key result

Vagus nerve stimulation significantly reduced the frequency and duration of spontaneous recurrent seizures and improved spatial learning and memory in epileptic rats.

Authors

ZXZhonghua XiongJZJing ZhangRGRan Gao

Discussion

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Overview

VNS may exert disease-modifying effects via adenosine in epilepsy models; hypothesis-generating for human refractory epilepsy, requiring clinical trials.

Key Points

  • To determine whether vagus nerve stimulation exerts disease-modifying effects in temporal lobe epilepsy by regulating hippocampal adenosine signalling.
  • Assigned pilocarpine-induced epileptic rats to active vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), 4 weeks of active VNS followed by 4 weeks of washout (VNS 4-4W), sham stimulation, or control groups.
  • Assessed spontaneous recurrent seizures via video-EEG, spatial learning and memory using the Morris water maze, and extracellular hippocampal adenosine dynamics with the GRABAdo1.0 sensor and fiber photometry.
  • Measured adenosine kinase and adenosine A1 receptor expression via immunostaining and Western blot, and tested receptor involvement using the A1R antagonist DPCPX.
  • Acute VNS triggered a rapid surge in extracellular hippocampal adenosine levels.
  • Active VNS significantly decreased the frequency and duration of spontaneous recurrent seizures and improved spatial memory compared with non-stimulated epileptic rats, with benefits persisting after a 4-week stimulation-free period.
  • VNS suppressed hippocampal adenosine kinase overexpression and restored adenosine A1 receptor levels, while pharmacological blockade of A1 receptors with DPCPX eliminated the antiseizure effect.

Structured PICO

P
Population
Rat model of pilocarpine-induced temporal lobe epilepsy assigned to VNS or control groups.
I
Intervention
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) (active VNS, or 4 weeks of active VNS followed by 4 weeks without stimulation)
C
Comparator
Control, pilocarpine (no VNS), and sham groups
O
Outcome
Frequency and duration of spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) and spatial learning and memorysurrogate

Vagus nerve stimulation exerts disease-modifying effects in epileptic rats by enhancing hippocampal adenosine signalling, reducing seizures and improving memory.

Cite This Study

Xiong et al. (2026) studied Pilocarpine-induced temporal lobe epilepsy. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) vs. Sham / no active stimulation was evaluated on Frequency and duration of spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS). Vagus nerve stimulation significantly reduced the frequency and duration of spontaneous recurrent seizures and improved spatial learning and memory in epileptic rats.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aae47640c69660b71ecc6c4https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2026.103211
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Vagus Nerve Stimulation Ameliorates Learning-Memory Deficits and Suppresses Neuronal Apoptosis via the ERK/CREB/BDNF Signaling Pathway in Epileptic Rats2025 · 5 citations
  2. 2Vagus Nerve Stimulation Enhances Memory and Long-term Potentiation via the Hippocampal NE/β-AR Signaling Pathway in Pilocarpine Rats2026
  3. 3Vagal afferents gate cortical excitability in a kainate-induced mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy2026
  4. 4Enhancement of the function of rat serotonin and norepinephrine neurons by sustained vagus nerve stimulation2009 · 218 citations
  5. 5Role of vagus nerve stimulation in epilepsy2024 · 1 citations