Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Tool to Induce Plasticity in Pathways Relevant for Extinction Learning
Published on: August 21, 2015
The vagal nerve as a link between the nervous and immune system in the instance of polymicrobial sepsis
Wolfram Kessler1, Tobias Traeger, Alexandra Westerholt
1Department of Surgery, Abteilung für Allgemeine Chirurgie, Visceral-Thorax- und Gefässchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Greifswald der Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität, Friedrich-Loeffler-Strasse 23b, 17475, Greifswald, Germany. wkessler@uni-greifswald.de
Background:
The role of the vagal nerve in the autonomic nervous system is widely well known. Recently, an additional function was revealed serving as a connector between the nervous and immune system. This connection is called the "cholinergic inflammatory pathway." Through stimulation of the acetylcholine receptors located upon the macrophages, the "unspecific" immune system can be directly influenced.
Methods:
The vagal nerve was completely transected directly posterior to its passage through the diaphragm. The effect of complete vagotomy was analyzed using a murine model of polymicrobial peritonitis (colon ascendens stent peritonitis, CASP). Survival and clinical course of vagotomized or sham-operated mice were analyzed in the CASP model.
Results:
After CASP surgery, vagotomy led to a significantly increased mortality (64.7%) in comparison to sham-vagotomized animals (34%). No difference in the bacterial load of various tissues (lung, liver, spleen, blood, lavage fluid, and kidney) from septic animals with or without vagotomy was observed. Vagotomized animals reveal elevated serum cytokine levels (TNF, IL-6, IL-10, and MCP-1) 20 h after the induction of polymicrobial peritonitis.
Conclusion:
The vagal nerve is therefore an important modulator of the immune system.
More Related Videos
06:43Increased Recovery Time and Decreased LPS Administration to Study the Vagus Nerve Stimulation Mechanisms in Limited Inflammatory Responses
Published on: March 29, 2017
07:30Design of Cecal Ligation and Puncture and Intranasal Infection Dual Model of Sepsis-Induced Immunosuppression
Published on: June 15, 2019
Related Concept Videos
The Parasympathetic Nervous System
The Sympathetic Nervous System
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
Regulation of Bacterial Virulence
Acute Inflammation III: Local and Systemic Effects
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology