Abstract: Objective To study the effect of electrical stimulation of vagus nerve on inflammatory response in septic shock rats. Methods SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: Group Ⅰ was the sham group, group Ⅱ with the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and the vagus nerve were isolated but not transected, group Ⅲ with bilateral cervical vagotomy following CLP, group Ⅳ with bilateral cervical vagotomy after CLP and the left vagus nerve trunks were stimulated with bipolar electrodes, group Ⅴ with bilateral cervical vagotomy after CLP and the right vagus nerve trunks were stimulated. The common carotid artery pressure was monitored, and the plasma tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), nitric oxide synthases (NOS) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured 2 h after stimulation. Results The mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) gradually decreased and the concentration of plasma TNF-α, NOS and NO significantly increased after CLP. Electrical stimulation of the left and right vagus nerve significantly increased the MAP and decreased the plasma TNF-α, NOS and NO levels. Conclusion Direct electrical stimulation of the left and right vagus nerve can significantly improve the blood pressure and reduced plasma TNF-α, NOS and NO levels during septic shock, which may play a role in anti-shock in rats.

Key words: septic shock, vagus nerve, electrical stimulation, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), nitric oxide synthases (NOS), nitric oxide (NO), cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), rats