Sensory Afferent Neural Circuits Mediate Electroacupuncture to Improve Swallowing Function in a Post‐Stroke Dysphagia Mouse Model

• Published in: CNS neuroscience & therapeutics Vol. 31; no. 7; pp. e70514 - n/a
• Main Authors: Dai, Yong, Hu, Jiahui, Wang, Qianqian, Qiao, Jia, Tian, Yueqin, Li, Chao, Chen, Jiemei, Zhao, Fei, Li, Xinya, Liu, Chunyan, Pan, Ruihuan, Ou, Haining, Xu, Nenggui, Wen, Hongmei, Dou, Zulin, Ye, Qiuping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.07.2025; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Acupuncture; Afferent Pathways - physiology; Afferent Pathways - physiopathology; Animal models; Animals; Deglutition - physiology; Deglutition Disorders - etiology; Deglutition Disorders - physiopathology; Deglutition Disorders - therapy; Disease Models, Animal; Dysphagia; Electroacupuncture; Electroacupuncture - methods; Electromyography; Embolization; Endoscopy; Food; Immunofluorescence; Laboratory animals; Laryngoscopy; Lasers; Lianquan acupoint (CV23); Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; neural circuit; Neural networks; Neuroimaging; Original; Perfusion; post‐stroke dysphagia; sensory afferent; Sensory neurons; Solitary tract nucleus; Somatosensory cortex; Stroke; Stroke - complications; Stroke - physiopathology; Swallowing; Synapses; Thalamus; China; neural circuit; post‐stroke dysphagia; electroacupuncture; Lianquan acupoint (CV23); sensory afferent
• DOI: 10.1111/cns.70514
• ISSN: 1755-5930; 1755-5949

ABSTRACT Background Electroacupuncture (EA) has been reported to improve post‐stroke dysphagia (PSD) effectively. However, the underlying afferent neural circuit and neurological mechanism involved in improving PSD remain poorly understood. Methods A PSD mouse model was established via the photochemical embolization method. Laser scatter contrast imaging was used to evaluate blood perfusion. Videofluoroscopic swallowing study, flexible endoscopic evaluation swallowing, and electromyography were used to assess the swallowing function. Neuronal activities and neuron types were detected by immunofluorescence. Synaptic connections between the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS), the ventral posteromedial thalamic nucleus (VPM), and the primary sensory cortex (S1) were verified by neural tracing. Finally, photogenetic, chemogenetic, and in vivo electromyography or electrophysiological records were used to explore the possible afferent neural circuits of EA therapy for PSD. Results EA treatment potentiated the blood perfusion of CV23 and S1, improved the area under the curve, pharyngeal transit time, and vocal fold mobility in PSD model mice. EA also activated neuronal activities in VPM, while chemical genetic inhibition of VPM attenuated the swallowing function of EA enhanced in PSD mice. Neural tracing revealed the presence of direct synaptic connections in the neural circuit of NTS‐VPM‐S1, and excitatory neurons were the predominant type of synaptic projection. Activation of this circuit improved the swallowing function in PSD mice, whereas its inhibition impaired the swallowing function; this effect was reversible by EA‐CV23. Conclusion Our findings uncover the importance of sensory afferent neural circuits NTS‐VPM‐S1 in driving the protective effect of EA‐CV23 against dysphagia and thus reveal a potential strategy for PSD intervention. Diagram of the mechanism underlying the effect of EA‐CV23 treatment on PSD. Excitatory neurons in the VPM are required for EA‐CV23 mediated alleviation of swallowing dysfunction in PSD model mice. This modulatory effect of EA involves the NTS‐VPM‐S1 neural circuit.