• Thomas J Hoffmann, Steven Mendez, Peter Staats, Charles W Emala, and Puyun Guo.
• Electrocore LLC, Morris Plains, NJ, USA; Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA; and Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
• Neuromodulation. 2009 Oct 1;12(4):261-9.

AbstractObjective. Smooth muscle help regulate the diameter of the airways and their constriction can contribute to the pathology of acute asthma attacks. This study sought to determine if applying a specific electrical signal to the vagus nerve (VN) could minimize histamine-induced bronchoconstriction. Methods. Sixteen guinea pigs and three swine were anesthetized and had bipolar electrodes positioned on the cervical VNs. After the animals stabilized, i.v. histamine was titrated to elicit a moderate 2-4 cm H(2) O increase in pulmonary inflation pressure (Ppi). Histamine was then dosed with or without concurrent low voltage VN stimulation. Results. The peak change in Ppi following a histamine challenge was reduced in the guinea pig by VN stimulation (3.4 ± 0.4 vs. 2.1 ± 0.2 cm H(2) O, p < 0.001). The results were confirmed in a limited study in swine and indicate VN treatment is applicable to larger animals. Conclusion. This study suggests that VN stimulation can reduce bronchoconstriction and may prove useful as a rescue therapy in the treatment of acute asthma.© 2009 International Neuromodulation Society.

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