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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Neurosci.
Sec. Autonomic Neuroscience
Volume 18 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1367266
This article is part of the Research Topic Bioelectronic Medicines – New Frontiers in Autonomic Neuromodulation, Volume III View all 5 articles

State-and Frequency-Dependence in Autonomic Rebalance mediated by Intradermal Auricular Electroacupuncture Stimulation

Provisionally accepted
Sen Yang Sen Yang Yurui Wu Yurui Wu Zheng Zhan Zheng Zhan *Yan-Hong Pan Yan-Hong Pan *Jin-Feng Jiang Jin-Feng Jiang *
  • Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Medicine Research of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) improves diseases such as refractory epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression, likely by rebalancing the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Intradermal auricular electro-acupuncture stimulation (iaES) produces similar effects. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different iaES frequencies on the parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions in different states of ANS imbalance.We measured heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate (HR) of non-modeled (normal) rats with the treatment of various frequencies to determine the optimal iaES frequency. The optimized iaES frequency was then applied to ANS imbalance model rats to elucidate its effects. Results: 30 Hz and 100 Hz iaES clearly affected HRV and HR in normal rats. 30 Hz iaES increased HRV, and decreased HR. 100 Hz iaES decreased HRV, and increased HR. In sympathetic excited state rats, 30 Hz iaES increased HRV. 100 Hz iaES increased HRV, and decreased HR. In parasympathetic excited state rats, 30 Hz and 100Hz iaES decreased HRV. In sympathetic inhibited state rats, 30 Hz iaES decreased HRV, while 100 Hz iaES decreased HR. In parasympathetic inhibited rats, 30 Hz iaES decreased HR and 100 Hz iaES increased HRV. Conclusion: 30 Hz and 100 Hz iaES contribute to ANS rebalance by increasing vagal and sympathetic activity with different amplifications. The 30Hz iaES exhibited positive effects in all the imbalanced states. 100 Hz iaES suppressed the sympathetic arm in sympathetic excitation and sympathetic/parasympathetic inhibition and suppressed the vagal arm and promoted the sympathetic arm in parasympathetic excitation and normal states.

    Keywords: Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Autonomic Nervous System, frequencydependency, ANS imbalance, HRV

    Received: 08 Jan 2024; Accepted: 09 May 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Yang, Wu, Zhan, Pan and Jiang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Zheng Zhan, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Medicine Research of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
    Yan-Hong Pan, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Medicine Research of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
    Jin-Feng Jiang, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Medicine Research of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China

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