First, the VNS could activate α7nAChRs expressed on microglia and astrocytes in a rat model of acute cerebral I/R injury for ischemia insult to cause a significant reduction in α7nAChRs on the surfaces of microglia and astrocytes, thus suppressing the expression of inflammatory cytokines (13, 15, 36). This evidence concerns the gene CHRNA7 and ischemia.