Correlation between afferent rearrangements and behavioral deficits after local excitotoxic insult in the mammalian vestibule: a rat model of vertigo symptoms.

Damage to inner ear afferent terminals is believed to result in many auditory and vestibular dysfunctions. The sequence of afferent injuries and repair, as well as their correlation with vertigo symptoms, remains poorly documented. In particular, information on the changes that take place at the primary vestibular endings during the first hours following a selective insult is lacking.

Symptomatic treatment of vestibular deficits: therapeutic potential of histamine H4 receptors.

Vestibular disorders display high prevalence and can severely impact the daily life. However, pharmacological options that would efficiently relieve the vertigo symptoms without side effects are still lacking. In the present review we briefly review the common history of histamine receptor modulation and the pharmacological therapy of vestibular disorders.

Characteristics of laser stimulation by near infrared pulses of retinal and vestibular primary neurons.

Background And Objective: The optical stimulation of neurons from pulsed infrared lasers has appeared over the last years as an alternative to classical electric stimulations based on conventional electrodes. Laser stimulation could provide a better spatial selectivity allowing single-cell stimulation without prerequisite contact. In this work we present relevant physical characteristics of a non-lethal stimulation of cultured mouse vestibular and retinal ganglion neurons by single infrared laser pulses.

Plasticity of Scarpa's Ganglion Neurons as a Possible Basis for Functional Restoration within Vestibular Endorgans.

In a previous study, we observed spontaneous restoration of vestibular function in young adult rodents following excitotoxic injury of the neuronal connections within vestibular endorgans. The functional restoration was supported by a repair of synaptic contacts between hair cells and primary vestibular neurons. This process was observed in 2/3 of the animals studied and occurred within 5 days following the synaptic damage.

Histamine H4 receptor antagonists as potent modulators of mammalian vestibular primary neuron excitability.

Background And Purpose: Betahistine, the main histamine drug prescribed to treat vestibular disorders, is a histamine H(3) receptor antagonist. Here, we explored the potential for modulation of the most recently cloned histamine receptor (H(4) receptor) to influence vestibular system function, using a selective H(4) receptor antagonist JNJ 7777120 and the derivate compound JNJ 10191584.

Experimental Approach: RT-PCR was used to assess the presence of H(4) receptors in rat primary vestibular neurons.