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

作者：Yong Dai, Jingmei Hu, Qianqian Wang, Jia Qiao, Yueqin Tian, Chao Li, Jiemei Chen, Fei Zhao, Xinya Li, Chunyan Liu, Ruihuan Pan, Haining Ou, Nenggui Xu, Hongmei Wen, Zulin Dou, Qiuping Ye · 发表于：CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1111/cns.70514 · 被引用次数：6 · 研究领域：Dysphagia Assessment and Management、Cervical and Thoracic Myelopathy、Botulinum Toxin and Related Neurological Disorders

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 ...