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Fig. 1 | Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Fig. 1

From: Modulatory effects of vagal stimulation on neurophysiological parameters and the cellular immune response in the rat brain during systemic inflammation

Fig. 1

Real-time PCR analysis of cytokines in the hypothalamus (a, c, e, g) and in the cortex (b, d, f, h) 4.5 h after LPS or vehicle administration (n = 5 for each group). LPS induced an increased expression of TNFα (a, b), IL-1β (c, d), IL-6 (e, f), and IL-10 (g, h). Vagus nerve stimulation significantly reduced the increased expression of IL-6 in the hypothalamus and cortex compared to the LPS + SHAM group (P < 0.01) and the LPS + SHAM group (P < 0.001) and the LPS + VGX group (P < 0.05), respectively. Additionally, it reduced the IL-10 expression in the hypothalamus compared to the LPS + SHAM group (P < 0.05). However, it did not influence the TNFα or IL-1β expression. Vagotomy alone reduced the expression of IL-1β in the cortex compared to the LPS + Sham group (P < 0.05). Data are given as means ± SEM. Significance is given as: *compared to SHAM; *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; #compared as indicated; # P < 0.05; ## P < 0.01; ### P < 0.001; TNF tumor necrosis factor, IL interleukin, LPS lipopolysaccharide, SHAM sham surgery, VGX bilateral vagotomy, VGX + VNS bilateral vagotomy and distal vagus nerve stimulation

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