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PubMed1988

The vestibular nerve of the chinchilla. I. Peripheral innervation patterns in the horizontal and superior semicircular canals.

1. Afferent fibers supplying the horizontal and superior semicircular canals of the chinchilla were labeled by extracellular injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into the vestibular nerve. The arborizations of labeled fibers within the sensory epithelium were reconstructed from serial sections of the crista. 2. The sensory epithelium of the crista can be divided into central, intermediate, and peripheral zones of approximately equal areas. The three zones can be distinguished in normal material by the density of hair cells and by the morphology of calyx endings. 3. Labeled fibers supply either the canalicular or the utricular side of the crista. Axons seldom bifurcate below the basement membrane and they begin dividing into their terminal arborizations almost immediately upon entering the sensory epithelium. The arborizations are compact, seldom extending more than 50 micron from the parent axon. 4. Both calyx and bouton endings were labeled. Calyces can be simple or complex. Simple calyces innervate individual hair cells, whereas complex calyces supply two to three adjacent hair cells. Complex calyces are commonly found only in the central zone. Simple calyces and boutons are located in all regions of the epithelium. Calyces emerge from the parent axon or one of its thick branches. Boutons, whether en passant or terminal, are always located on thin processes. 5. Fibers were classified as calyx, bouton, or dimorphic. The first type only has calyx endings, the second only has bouton endings, and the third has both kinds of endings. Dimorphic units make up some 70% of the labeled fibers, bouton units some 20%, and calyx units some 10%. The three fiber types differ in the diameters of their parent axons and in the regions of the crista they supply. Axon diameters are largest for calyx units and smallest for bouton units. Calyx units are concentrated in the central zone of the crista, whereas bouton units are largely confined to the peripheral zone. Dimorphic units are seen throughout the sensory epithelium. 6. Calyx units are almost always unbranched and end as simple calyces or, less often, as complex calyces. The terminal arbors of bouton units consist of fine processes containing 15-80 endings. Dimorphic units vary in complexity from fibers with a single calyx and a few boutons to those with one to four calyces and more than 50 boutons. 7. The results emphasize the importance of dimorphic units, which were the most numerous type of afferent fiber labeled in this study and were the only units found to innervate all regions of the sensory epithelium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1996

Uncrossed disynaptic inhibition of second-order vestibular neurons and its interaction with monosynaptic excitation from vestibular nerve afferent fibers in the frog.

1. Eighth nerve evoked responses in central vestibular neurons (n = 146) were studied in the isolated brain stem of frogs. Ninety percent of these neurons responded with a monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) after electrical stimulation of the ipsilateral VIIIth nerve. In 5% of these neurons, the EPSP was truncated by a disynaptic inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP), and in 5% of these neurons a pure disynaptic IPSP was evoked. 2. Disynaptic IPSPs superimposed upon apparently pure EPSPs were revealed by bath application of the glycine receptor antagonist strychnine (0.5-5 microM) or of the gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptor antagonist bicuculline (0.5-2 microM). The evoked EPSP increased in most central vestibular neurons (strychnine: 15 out of 16 neurons; bicuculline 26 out of 29 neurons). At higher stimulus intensities, the evoked spike discharge increased from 2 to 3 spikes before up to 8-10 spikes per electrical pulse during the application of blocking agents. The unmasked disynaptic inhibitory component increased with stimulus intensity to a different extent in different neurons. 3. Lesion studies demonstrated that these inhibitory components were generated ipsilaterally with respect to the recording side. The disynaptic strychnine-sensitive inhibition was mediated by neurons located either in the ventral vestibular nuclear complex (VNC) or in the adjacent reticular formation. The spatial distribution of the disynaptic inhibition was investigated by simultaneous recordings of VIIIth nerve-evoked field potentials at different rostrocaudal locations of the VNC. A significant strychnine-sensitive component was detected in the middle and caudal parts but not in the rostral part of the VNC. A bicuculline-sensitive component was detected in the rostral and in the caudal parts but not in the middle part of the VNC. In view of a similar rostrocaudal distribution of glycineor GABA-immunoreactive neurons in the VNC of frogs, our results suggest that part of the disynaptic inhibition is mediated by local interneurons with a spatially restricted projection area. 4. The monosynaptic EPSP of second-order vestibular neurons was mediated in part by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and in part by non-NMDA receptors. The relative contribution of the NMDA receptor-mediated component of the EPSP decreased with stronger stimuli. This negative correlation could have resulted from a preferential activation of NMDA receptors via thick vestibular nerve afferent fibers. Alternatively, the activation of NMDA receptors became disfacilitated at higher stimulus intensities due to the recruitment of disynaptic inhibitory inputs. Comparison of data obtained in the presence and in the absence of these glycine and GABAA receptor blockers indicates a preferential activation of NMDA receptors via larger-diameter vestibular nerve afferent fibers. 5. The kinetics of NMDA receptors (delay, rise time) activated by afferent nerve inputs were relatively fast. These fast kinetics were independent of superimposed IPSPs. The association of these receptors with large-diameter vestibular nerve afferent fibers suggests that fast NMDA receptor kinetics might be matched to the more phasic response dynamics of the large diameter vestibular afferent neurons to natural head accelerations.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1991

Vestibular-nerve inputs to the vestibulo-ocular reflex: a functional-ablation study in the squirrel monkey.

Advantage was taken of differences in the electrical excitability of vestibular-nerve fibers to characterize the afferent input to the canal-related vestibulo-ocular reflex. Large anodal (inhibitory) currents, when delivered to both ears, result in a selective, reversible ablation of irregular afferents. Their background discharge and responses to head rotations are temporarily abolished. The same currents have less effect on the background discharge and no effect on the rotational sensitivity of regular afferents. Eye movements were evoked by head rotations in alert monkeys. The ablating currents did not alter the ocular responses to sinusoidal head rotations in yaw or pitch planes. Responses to rapid changes in head velocity were similarly unaffected. It is concluded that irregular afferents do not make a net contribution to the reflex. Slow-phase eye movements evoked by unilateral galvanic currents are consistent with this conclusion. The results are incorporated into a systems model of the reflex. There are three conclusions from the model: (1) the signal to motoneurons consists of the sum of three components related, respectively, to head velocity, eye position, and filtered eye velocity; (2) regular afferents provide the best match to the dynamic requirements of the reflex; and (3) the central pathways responsible for all three signal components receive regular inputs.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1997

[Imaging of the labyrinth and vestibular nerve. Clinical significance for differential diagnosis of vestibular diseases].

High resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) and computed tomography (HR-CT) of the inner ear are becoming more important for the diagnosis of peripheral vestibular lesions. Modern HR-MRI techniques allow visualization of detailed anatomic features of the vestibulo-cochlear regions as well as pathologic findings in the inner ear such as, neoplastic lesions (e.g., small intracanalicular acoustic neuromas), anomalies causing vertigo and hearing loss (e.g. Mondini's-malformation, perilymph fistula, vestibular paroxysmia), and inflammatory diseases (e.g., Cogan's syndrome, labyrinthitis, zoster neuritis). HR-CT is still the first examination that should be performed in patients with middle ear diseases (e.g., tumor, infection), trauma (e.g. temporal bone fractures), or fibro-osseous diseases. Although the imaging of the vestibulo-cochlear system has dramatically improved, there are still several peripheral vestibular disorders that cannot be visualized so far, e.g., benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo, idopathic vestibular neuritis or Menière's disease.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1984

Initial, rapid phase of recovery from unilateral vestibular lesion in rat not dependent on survival of central portion of vestibular nerve.

The behavioral effects of vestibular endorgan lesions were compared with those of vestibular ganglion lesions in the albino rat. No differences in head tilt angle or spontaneous eye nystagmus beat frequency were noted between the two groups during the first 36 h after the lesion was made. Of rats studied beyond 36 h, 2/7 with lesions restricted to the endorgans and 2/3 with ganglion lesions showed pronounced secondary increases in head tilt and tonic eye deviation, but not eye nystagmus. Single units were recorded in the ganglion acutely, as well as 1,2, and 14 days after an endorgan lesion was made. Practically no resting activity could be recorded in the ganglion acutely (2-7 h) after endorgan damage, and the resting activity at subsequent times was slight. It is concluded that an intact vestibular ganglion isolated from the sensory periphery is of no functional significance during the first 36 h, when the largest decreases in magnitude of the behavioral signs of unilateral labyrinthectomy occur in the rat. A slight significance at later times is not ruled out.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1983

Short- and long-term modifications of vestibulo-ocular response dynamics following unilateral vestibular nerve lesions in the cat.

The dynamics of the horizontal vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) were determined in the dark prior to and at various time periods after unilateral removal of the vestibular nerve. One chronic group, consisting of cats that were operated at the age of 6 weeks or as adults, was studied 10.5 to 22 months later; an adult-operated group was measured 1-244 days postoperatively (p.o.). Between measurements cats were kept in a normal environment. In control animals the VOR gain was close to unity only up to certain stimulus velocities which varied amongst cats; thereafter a sharp drop in gain occurred probably due to saturation of central and peripheral neuronal responses. Therefore, VOR gains in lesioned animals were compared to the control responses yielding high gain. It is only at these small stimulus amplitudes that the two labyrinths maximally interact and, therefore, one would expect the largest changes. The gain was computed after correction for the ocular imbalance induced by the lesion. Immediately after the lesion a drop in gain to stimulations in both directions was noted; the reduction was larger for the VOR evoked on rotation to the lesioned side. Contrary to control animals, no partial response saturation occurred in lesioned animals but, following rotation to the lesioned side, complete saturation was noted with larger stimuli. Ocular balance was greatly improved within the first 3-4 days p.o. as indicated by the strong reduction of nystagmus. The time course of p.o. adaptive gain changes could be divided into three stages: in the initial stage (1-5 days p.o.) no improvement was visible; between p.o. days 5-10 one group of cats showed an abrupt increase in gain while it remained low in others. Response symmetry showed no consistent change in either group; the 3rd stage starting p.o. day 10 and extending throughout the observation period (22 months) is characterized by slowly developing changes reducing significantly response asymmetry. The incremental gain was higher in the young than in the adult-operated chronic cats. Compared to controls the phase plot of the VOR of lesioned animals shows a parallel shift of ca. 10 degrees towards larger lead over the frequency range tested (0.05-1.0 Hz) independent of direction of rotation or p.o. stages. All lesioned animals showed a clear failure to hold eye position in the dark even in the chronic stage; a drift with an exponentially decreasing velocity of ca. 2-4 degrees/s was typical.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1995

[Clinical use of EVAR and OVAR by the dumped rotation test--comparison of normal volunteers and patients with unilateral vestibular nerve section].

Horizontal eye movements in response to either earth vertical axis rotation (EVAR) or off vertical axis rotation (OVAR) by a 10 degree tilted axis were recorded in six normal subjects and three patients with unilateral vestibular nerve section. Both trials consisted of acceleration at approximately 400 deg/sec2 until an angular velocity of 180 deg/sec was reached followed by deceleration at -4 deg/sec2 until rotation ceased. This is the so-called dumped rotation procedure. Total numbers of nystagmic beats and the duration of perrotatory nystagmus in these two different trials were compared. The results were as follows: 1) Total numbers of nystagmic beats in OVAR were significantly larger than in EVAR. 2) The duration of perrotatory nystagmus in OVAR was significantly longer than in EVAR. Only the horizontal semicircular canals were stimulated by angular acceleration in EVAR, whereas both otolith organs and semicircular canals were stimulated on changing the position of the head around the direction of the gravity in OVAR.

Acceleration↗
PubMed1988

Secretory function of the vestibular nerve calyx suggested by presence of vesicles, synapsin I, and synaptophysin.

Type I sensory hair cells of the vestibular epithelium are nearly completely ensheathed by an afferent nerve ending, the vestibular nerve calyx. We have recently reported that the nerve calyx, and, in particular, its apical portions surrounding the neck of the hair cell, are immunoreactive for synapsin I (Favre et al., 1986), a major membrane component of small synaptic vesicles of axonal endings. We have now found, by electron microscopy, that the same region of the calyx is densely populated by microvesicles morphologically similar to typical presynaptic small synaptic vesicles. Furthermore, we have established by light microscopy immunocytochemistry that this region of the calyx also contains a high concentration of synaptophysin, another well-characterized major component of small synaptic vesicle membranes. These results suggest that the upper portion of the calyx is equipped with the machinery that in presynaptic terminals is involved in the release of neurotransmitters and raise the possibility that the calyx, via secretion of neurotransmitterlike substances, might modulate the function of type I hair cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Fish inner ear otoliths stop calcium incorporation after vestibular nerve transection.

Previous investigations revealed that the growth of fish inner ear otoliths (otolith size and calcium incorporation) depends on the amplitude and the direction of gravity, suggesting the existence of a (negative) feedback mechanism. In a search for the regulating unit, the vestibular nerve was unilaterally transected in neonatal swordtail fish (Xiphophorus helleri) which were subsequently incubated in the calcium-tracer alizarin-complexone. Calcium incorporation and thus otolith growth ceased on the operated head sides, indicating that the brain is significantly involved in regulating otolith growth.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of vestibular nerve transection on the calcium incorporation of fish otoliths.

Previous investigations revealed that the growth of fish inner ear otoliths (otolith size and calcium-incorporation) depends on the amplitude and the direction of gravity, suggesting the existence of a (negative) feedback mechanism. In search for the regulating unit, the vestibular nerve was transacted unilaterally in neonate swordtail fish (Xiphophorus helleri) which were subsequently incubated in the calcium-tracer alizarin-complexone. Calcium incorporation ceased on the transacted head sides, indicating that calcium uptake is neurally regulated. Grant numbers: 50 WB 9533, 50 WB 9997.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Small neurons in the vestibular nerve root project to the marginal shell of the anteroventral cochlear nucleus in the cat.

We injected biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) into marginal shell regions of the anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN) of the cat. These injections led to retrograde labeling of cells including small cells (median some area = 111 micron2, equivalent diameter = 11.9 microns) in the vestibular nerve root (VNR), just ventral to an anterior part of the AVCN. This is an unexpected new finding. The cells were scattered among BDA-labeled fibers and were oriented parallel to the course of the VNR fibers. We suggest that the small neurons of the VNR might serve as second-order vestibular neurons conveying information from vestibular end organs to the cochlear nucleus (CN) and/or act as interneurons between the olivocochlear fibers in the VNR and the CN.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Histochemical studies of the vestibular nerve system in the developing chick embryo. Glycoconjugates in the vestibular end organs.

Glycoconjugates of the vestibular end organs in the developing chick embryos were well defined and localized using lectins-HRP (WGA, PNA, UEA-1) and HID-AB stains. In spite of the fact that no differentiation of the otic vesicle was seen on the 4-day-old chick embryos, the luminal surface of the otic vesicle was labeled with lectins. The cupula and otoconia were labeled most intensely with lectins on the 6-day-old chick embryos. The reactivity of lectins with the cupula and otoconia was as follows: WGA greater than UEA-1 greater than PNA. As the vestibular end organs had become mature, the epithelial cells of the semicircular duct, utricle and saccule were labeled with lectins. These findings suggest that glycoconjugates play an important role in the development and formation of the vestibular end organs.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Labyrinthectomy versus middle fossa vestibular nerve section in Menière's disease. A critical evaluation of relief of vertigo.

Labyrinthectomy has been used for years in the surgical management of Menière's disease for the control of vertigo. The effect of this procedure are predictable and satisfying but residual hearing is sacrificed. With the advent of the middle fossa section of the vestibular nerve, it soon became apparent that it was possible to obtain relief from vertigo and at the same time preserve residual hearing. How do the two procedures actually compare as far as relief of vertigo, postsurgical ataxia, and recovery periods? The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the two procedures in regard to these three parameters. A series of middle fossa operations is compared to one in which the patients received a labyrinthectomy. Results and complications in both groups are covered in detail.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Role of nucleus retroambigualis in respiratory reflexes evoked by superior laryngeal and vestibular nerve afferents and in emesis.

An ascending projection from the medullary nucleus retroambigualis (NRA) has recently been described as important for the control of the upper airway during vocalization. We evaluated the importance of this projection in other behaviors by making localized injections of the neurotoxin kainic acid in the NRA in decerebrate cats, most of which were paralyzed and artificially ventilated. In contrast to its importance for vocalization, the NRA is not essential for activation of upper airway musculature during respiration, swallowing, vomiting, or reflexes elicited by superior laryngeal or vestibular nerve afferents. However, kainic acid injections in the NRA and adjacent reticular formation prolonged the inhibitory phrenic motoneuronal response to superior laryngeal nerve stimulation and abolished or reduced abdominal motoneuronal responses during respiration, vomiting, and superior laryngeal nerve stimulation. Thus, of the behaviors we investigated, the importance of the ascending projection from the NRA appears to be limited to vocalization, while descending projections from the NRA region are important in a number of behaviors.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Epithelioid schwannoma of the vestibular nerve.

Epithelioid schwannomas are rarely encountered intracranially, with only four cases involving the eighth nerve reported in the literature. Histological behaviour ranging from benign to aggressive has been described. We report a 45-year-old woman who presented with right-sided tinnitus and hearing impairment. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a tumour in the right cerebellopontine angle with intracanalicular extension. The patient underwent retromastoid craniectomy with near-total tumour excision. Microscopical examination confirmed the diagnosis of epithelioid schwannoma of the vestibular nerve. Intraoperative findings of sharp circumscription, bland histological appearance, low proliferative activity, coupled with the indolent clinical course, point to the quiescent nature of the lesion in this case.

Cranial Nerve Neoplasms↗