Figure 3.

The vagus nerve was essential for basal forebrain cholinergic neurons to regulate the systemic inflammatory response. Wild-type (WT) and ChAT mice underwent left cervical vagotomy (LcVGX) or sham surgery (both groups of mice were implanted with a cannula 7 d prior to surgery). After 3 d, the mice underwent the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) operation and were treated with photostimulation (n = 6 per group). A–B, Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 were lower in the ChAT septic mice that did not undergo LcVGX, and this effect was partly abolished in the ChAT LcVGX mice. C–D, TNF-α and IL-6 levels were restored in the spleens of ChAT LcVGX mice after CLP. These data are presented as the mean ± sem (*p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01). NS = no significant difference.