Time course of eye nystagmus and body movement after peripheral vestibular lesions in guinea pigs.
Body movement of guinea pigs was measured using a force platform at various times before and after unilateral end organ ablation and before and after sham surgery. Both spontaneous and drop-evoked movement patterns differed in the same animal after vestibular ablation and from control animals that received sham lesions. Whereas measures of eye nystagmus disappeared by 48 h postablation, measures of body movement indicated persistent differences even at 72 h. We conclude that the force platform can differentiate between movement patterns of normal and vestibular-lesioned animals and, in fact, measures a vestibular deficiency that is independent of eye nystagmus. The force platform appears to be a useful addition to evaluate vestibular deficits as well as to detect any benefits of pharmacological or surgical therapies.
Thompson
G C
GC
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Oklahoma City, OK 73190-3048, USA.
Ross
C D
CD
Britton
B H
BH
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D009068:Movement; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004856:Postural Balance; D014726:Vestibular Nuclei / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery