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Vagus Nerve Stimulation Improves Cognitive Impairment After Traumatic Brain Injury Through the "Microbiota-Gut Immune Barrier-Neuroinflammation" Axis
 
Yue Zhao1,Xing Li2, Lu Zhou1,Xiuxiu Xu1,Kangkang Ren2, Duoduo Ren3, and Lijuan Quan*1

1Department of Rehabilitation, The 1st affiliated hospital,Jiangxi Medical College,Nanchang University,Nanchang,China; 2Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The 1st affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College; 3College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University.

*Corresponding author: ndyfy01461@ncu.edu.cn

Abstract   

Objective: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often leads to physical and mental dysfunction in human and companion animal. Studies have shown that the gut microbiota influences TBI progression and prognosis through the gut-brain axis. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has neuroprotective and cognitive benefits, but its mechanism for alleviating cognitive impairment after TBI remains unclear. Methods: A TBI model was established using a controlled cortical impact device (CCI), with 3-day VNS intervention. To investigate the relationship between VNS improving cognitive impairment after TBI and remodeling gut dysbiosis, antibiotics were used to clear the gut microbiota of TBI mice. Cognitive improvement was evaluated via behavioral tests. Inflammation, gut microbiota, and colonic damage were analyzed via Nissl staining, immunofluorescence, Hematoxylin-eosin staining, ELISA, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, qRT-PCR, and western blot. Results: Our study revealed that VNS markedly enhanced cognition and inhibits neuroinflammation in TBI mice by modulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway, while simultaneously reducing the abundance of cognition-impairing associated Escherichia_Shigella and ameliorating intestinal barrier dysfunction. After antibiotics eliminated the microbe, the effects of VNS on improving cognition, alleviating colon injury, and suppressing neuroinflammation were weakened. Conclusions: These findings reveal a novel microbiota-gut immune barrier-neuroinflammation axis, supporting VNS-based interventions for TBI management in both humans and companion animals.

To Cite This Article: Zhao Y, Li X, Zhou L, Xu X, Ren K and Quan L 2025. Vagus nerve stimulation improves cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury through the "microbiota-gut immune barrier-neuroinflammation" axis. Pak Vet J. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2025.252

 
 
   
 

ISSN 0253-8318 (Print)
ISSN 2074-7764 (Online)



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