Effect of Non-invasive Electrical Stimulation at the Level of Tragus on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Hypertensive Rats

Background: As per the present scenario, increased incidences of side effects and the emergence of resistant cases is a big challenge for physicians in treating hypertension despite having multiple drug anti-hypertensive drug treatments, so a new way of treating hypertension by non-pharmacological method is warranted now.To study and compare the effects of non-invasive transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) of the vagus nerve on blood pressure and heart rate in rats. Methods:The study was conducted on twelve male Wister rats (six normotensive and six hypertensive).Hypertension was induced using oral L-NAME administration for 21 days.Systolic blood pressure and heart rate were recorded at baseline and after 5, 10, and 20 minutes of TES applied at the tragus under ketamine/xylazine anesthesia.Results: Systolic blood pressure was reduced from 135.143.50mmHg to 119.743.06mmHg and heart rate was significantly reduced from 234.0020.01 to 212.836.79beats/min after 20 minutes of TES in hypertensive rats.Similar trends were observed in normotensive rats.The reductions were statistically significant.Conclusion: TES decreases both systolic blood pressure and heart rate in hypertensive as well as normotensive rats, suggesting its potential as a non-invasive approach for autonomic modulation in hypertension.