Zabara J
Department of Physiology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140.
Epilepsia. 1992 Nov-Dec;33(6):1005-12. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1992.tb01751.x.
Repetitive electrical stimulation of the canine cervical vagus nerve interrupts or abolishes motor seizures induced by strychnine and tremors induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). Tremors were defined as rhythmic alternating contractions of opposing muscle groups, exerting much less force than seizure contractions. Seizures were induced by injection boluses of strychnine or PTZ at 1- to 4-min intervals until sustained muscle activity was observed electromyographically (EMG). Vagal stimulation terminated seizures in 0.5-5 s. There were prolonged periods with no spontaneous EMG activity after stimulation. The period of protection was approximately four times the stimulation period. The antiseizure actions of vagal stimulation were not altered by transection of the vagus distal to the stimulating electrode. Optimal stimulus parameters were estimated: strength, approximately 20 V (electrode resistance 1-5 omega); frequency 20-30 Hz; duration, approximately 0.2 ms. These data suggest that the antiseizure effects derive from stimulation of small-diameter afferent unmyelinated fibers in the vagus nerve. These results may form the basis of a new therapeutic approach to epilepsy.
反复电刺激犬的颈迷走神经可中断或消除士的宁诱发的运动性癫痫发作以及戊四氮（PTZ）诱发的震颤。震颤被定义为拮抗肌群有节奏的交替收缩，其产生的力量远小于癫痫发作时的收缩力量。每隔1至4分钟注射大剂量士的宁或PTZ诱发癫痫发作，直到通过肌电图（EMG）观察到持续的肌肉活动。迷走神经刺激在0.5至5秒内终止癫痫发作。刺激后有较长时间无自发肌电图活动。保护期约为刺激期的四倍。迷走神经刺激电极远端的迷走神经横断并不改变其抗癫痫作用。估计了最佳刺激参数：强度约20伏（电极电阻1至5欧姆）；频率20至30赫兹；持续时间约0.2毫秒。这些数据表明，抗癫痫作用源于对迷走神经中小直径传入无髓纤维的刺激。这些结果可能构成癫痫新治疗方法的基础。
