Chronic abdominal vagus stimulation increased brain metabolic connectivity, reduced striatal dopamine transporter and increased mid-brain serotonin transporter in obese miniature pigs

Background/objective Changes in brain metabolism has been investigated thoroughly during unilateral cervical chronic vagal stimulation in epileptic or depressive patients. Bilateral stimulation of the abdominal vagus (aVNS) has received less attention despite the reduction in body weight and an altered feeding behavior in obese animals that could be clinically relevant in obese individuals. Our study aims to examine the changes in brain glucose metabolism (CMRglu) induced by aVNS in obese adult miniature pigs. Dopamine (DAT) and serotonin transporters (SERT) were also quantified to further understand the molecular origins of the alterations in brain metabolism.