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Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine >

2026 , Vol. 46 >Issue 2: 326 - 338

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.02.006

Original Articles

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation improves emotional and cognitive functions in post-traumatic stress disorder rats through anti-inflammation, neuroprotection, and modulation of the hippocampal nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-heme oxygenase-1-glutathione peroxidase 4 pathway

  • ZHENG Yanfeng ,
  • ZHANG Xinjiang ,
  • ZHANG Xiaomeng ,
  • LI Xiangji ,
  • XIN Chen ,
  • KONG Jingwei ,
  • WANG Xin ,
  • SUN Lan ,
  • RONG Peijing
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  • 1 Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
    2 Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
    3 Department of Gastroenterology, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Health, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
    4 Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100010, China
SUN Lan, Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China. sunlan462@163.com;
RONG Peijing, Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China. drrongpj@163.com; Telephone: +86-18022386176

Received date: 2025-10-16

  Accepted date: 2026-02-05

  Online published: 2026-04-04

Supported by

Scientific and Technological Innovation Project of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Neurobiophysical Investigation on the Amelioration of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder through Transcutaneous Auricular Electromagnetic Stimulation in the THz Frequency Range(CI2023C017YL);National Natural Science Foundation of China Explore the Mechanism by which Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Improves Depressive Behaviors Based on the Sirtuin 1/Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-related Factor 2/Glutathione Peroxidase 4 Signaling Pathway(82304914)

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role and potential molecular mechanisms of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

METHODS: A single prolonged stress (SPS) model of PTSD was used to conduct behavioral tests and evaluate the effects of taVNS on the emotion-cognitive function in PTSD animals. Focusing on the prefrontal cortex-hippocampus brain region, we systematically evaluated the growth status of neurons and astrocytes, as well as the level of microglial-mediated neuroinflammation. Key indicators of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related (NRF2)-heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)-glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) signaling pathway were detected and analyzed. Additionally, immune and oxidative stress levels in peripheral plasma were also assessed.

RESULTS: Two weeks of taVNS significantly improved the abnormal emotion-cognitive function in PTSD animals and partially inhibited peripheral oxidative stress injury and immune-inflammatory responses. Compared with the prefrontal cortex, taVNS markedly alleviated hippocampal neuron loss, microglial activation, and astrocyte dysfunction in PTSD rats, suggesting that the NRF2-HO-1-GPX4 signaling pathway may play a critical role in this process.

CONCLUSION: taVNS extensively modulates the functions of neurons and glial cells by regulating both central and peripheral oxidative stress and immune-inflammatory responses, thereby ameliorating the abnormal emotional and cognitive functions observed in PTSD animals.

Key words： post-traumatic stress disorder; oxidative stress; immune-inflammatory responses; transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation

Cite this article

ZHENG Yanfeng , ZHANG Xinjiang , ZHANG Xiaomeng , LI Xiangji , XIN Chen , KONG Jingwei , WANG Xin , SUN Lan , RONG Peijing . Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation improves emotional and cognitive functions in post-traumatic stress disorder rats through anti-inflammation, neuroprotection, and modulation of the hippocampal nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-heme oxygenase-1-glutathione peroxidase 4 pathway[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2026 , 46(2) : 326 -338 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.02.006

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