CGRP expression in the vestibular periphery after transient blockage of bilateral vestibular input.
This study aimed to establish an animal model of reversible bilateral vestibular disorders that is suitable for examining the mechanisms of vestibular plasticity, and to observe the changes in the plasticity of vestibular efferent systems. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) was infused continuously for 7 days into the bilateral perilymph of guinea pig cochlea. We assessed the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) for evaluating the vestibular function. We also investigated the changes in calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity in vestibular end organs to observe the changes in the plasticity of vestibular systems. The VOR was completely eliminated by TTX administration and returned to the preoperative levels within 120 h after TTX discontinuation. An obvious increase in the number of CGRP-immunoreactive fibers was observed within the neurosensory epithelia of the maculae and cristae. An animal model of reversible bilateral vestibular disorders was established and used for investigating the plasticity of the vestibular nervous system.
Hara
Hirotaka
H
Department of Otolaryngology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan. harahiro@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp
Takeno
Kenji
K
Shimogori
Hiroaki
H
Yamashita
Hiroshi
H
D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide