Background
Vagus nerve is one of the crucial routes in communication between the immune and central nervous systems. The impaired vagal nerve function may intensify peripheral inflammatory processes. This effect subsides along with prolonged recovery after permanent nerve injury. One of the
Discussion
We propose an alternative pathway of immune to CNS communication after vagotomy, leading to activation of the HPA axis, by influencing central amino acids and subsequent monoaminergic neurotransmission.
Methods
Using microarrays and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), we measured genome-wide gene expression and major amino acid neurotransmitters content in the hypothalamus of bilaterally vagotomized rats, 1 month after surgery.
Results
Our results show that, in the long term, vagotomy affects hypothalamic amino acids concentration but not mRNA expression of tested genes.