AUTHOR=Collard Elise , Germany Morrison Enrique , Reina Elena Acedo , Dereli Ayse S. , Apaire Auriane , Nonclercq Antoine , El Tahry Riem 

TITLE=Vagal nerve signals are modulated by spontaneous seizures in Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rats from Strasbourg

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience

VOLUME=Volume 19 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2025.1568261

DOI=10.3389/fnins.2025.1568261

ISSN=1662-453X

ABSTRACT=IntroductionOne-third of epileptic patients are resistant to conventional treatments. Vagus nerve stimulation is a promising therapy, especially when applied early during seizure onset. This study explores vagus nerve activity (VNA) during seizures in Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rat from Strasbourg (GAERS) model and explores how VNA changes with epilepsy duration.MethodsEleven rats (4, 6, and 10 months old, n = 4, 4, 3, respectively) were continuously recorded with electroencephalography, VNA recordings, and video for 24 h. Ictal VNA root mean square (RMS) values preceded by NREM sleep extracted from 11 rats were studied in a total of 620 seizures.ResultsOverall, VNA RMS increased during seizures, with a median rise of 60%. However, this modulation decreased with age, despite stable seizure severity. Significant differences in VNA activity and inter-quartile range were observed between age groups.DiscussionThese results support seizure severity-dependent changes in ictal VNA modulation and point toward the potential of VNA as a biomarker for seizure detection and autonomic dysfunction.