Electroacupuncture Suppresses Premature Ventricular Complexes Occurring Post-myocardial Infarction through corticothalamic circuit

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to suppress premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) following myocardial infarction (MI) in humans. However, the specific neural circuitry and causal mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. Here, we reveal a previously unrecognized connection from the primary motor cortex (M1) to the nucleus rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) circuitry via the layer 5 of the primary motor cortex (M1L5)-zona incerta (ZI) pathway, which selectively suppresses PVCs in post-MI mice. Utilizing viral tracing, fiber photometry recordings, and optogenetic stimulation, we demonstrate that EA inhibits glutamatergic projections from M1L5 to ZI, leading to the activation of local GABAergic neurons and subsequent inhibition of RVLM (M1L5-ZI-RVLM). Furthermore, optogenetic or chemogenetic inhibition of the M1L5-ZI-RVLM circuit replicates the anti-PVC effects observed with EA in MI mice. Artificial activation of M1L5-projecting ZI neurons reverses the suppressive effects of EA on PVCs in MI mice. Overall, our findings highlight the M1L5-ZI-RVLM circuit as a crucial mediator of EA-induced suppression of PVCs following myocardial infarction. Additionally, this newly identified corticothalamic circuit may represent a promising target for mitigating PVCs post-myocardial infarction.

电针（Electroacupuncture, EA）已被证实可抑制人类心肌梗死（myocardial infarction, MI）后出现的室性早搏（premature ventricular complexes, PVCs），但该效应背后的特异性神经环路与因果机制仍未明确。本研究揭示了一条此前未被发现的初级运动皮层（primary motor cortex, M1）至延髓嘴侧腹外侧核（nucleus rostral ventrolateral medulla, RVLM）的神经通路：即初级运动皮层第五层（layer 5 of the primary motor cortex, M1L5）-未定带（zona incerta, ZI）通路，该通路可选择性抑制心肌梗死模型小鼠的室性早搏。本研究借助病毒示踪技术、光纤光度记录与光遗传刺激手段，证实电针可抑制M1L5至ZI的谷氨酸能投射，进而激活局部γ-氨基丁酸能神经元（GABAergic neurons），最终抑制RVLM，即M1L5-ZI-RVLM通路。进一步实验显示，对M1L5-ZI-RVLM环路进行光遗传或化学遗传抑制（chemogenetic inhibition），可重现心肌梗死小鼠中电针的抗室性早搏效应；而人工激活接受M1L5投射的ZI神经元，则可逆转电针对心肌梗死小鼠室性早搏的抑制作用。综上，本研究发现M1L5-ZI-RVLM环路是电针抑制心肌梗死后室性早搏的关键介导通路。此外，这一新鉴定的皮层丘脑环路（corticothalamic circuit），或可成为防治心肌梗死后室性早搏的潜在靶点。

搜集汇总

背景与挑战

背景概述

该数据集提供了一项关于电针抑制心肌梗死后室性早搏的神经机制研究数据。研究揭示了一个关键的皮质-丘脑回路（M1L5-ZI-RVLM），该回路介导电针的治疗效果，并通过病毒追踪、光遗传学等方法验证了其因果作用。数据集包含支持研究结果的图表原始数据，以Excel文件形式存储，用于进一步分析或验证。