We have demonstrated visualization of functional brain changes caused by non-invasive, ultrasound-based stimulation of specific axonal projections within the liver. Following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injections in a rat animal model, the site-specific liver ultrasound (US) stimulation affected blood glucose levels. The glucose concentration changes were accompanied by increases in the apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC’s) in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), a known center of afferent nerve pathway termination for integration of outgoing systemic signaling. The local sites of neuronal de-activation (as highlighted by diffusion fMRI) were confirmed by reduced hypothalamic cFOS staining (a marker of neuronal activation).
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