Autonomic cardiovascular control via the semicircular canal function

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K06451
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 45060:Applied anthropology-related
• Research Institution: Gihu University of Medical Science
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Kunihiko 岐阜医療科学大学, 薬学部, 教授 (60313871)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 杉浦 明弘 岐阜医療科学大学, 保健科学部, 講師 (00528630) ; 川田 徹 国立研究開発法人国立循環器病研究センター, 研究所, 室長 (30243752)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 三半規管 / 圧受容器反射 / カロリックテスト

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR) were evaluated during the caloric test, which is a semicircular canal function test. HR decreased at the onset of cold air stimulation to the eardrum regardless of AP change. This decrease was considered due to cold stimulation rather than physical stimulation of the airflow, and to stimulation of the eardrum and semicircular canals rather than the outer ear. Positive correlation between the maximum slow phase velocity of nystagmus and the change in HR was also found. In other words, the lower the semicircular canal function, the greater the decrease in HR. Therefore, it is considered that the semicircular canals suppress the decrease in HR due to cold air stimulation.

Free Research Field

神経性循環調節

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

平衡感覚機能を司る三半規管が，循環動態にも関係していることが示唆された。これはあらたな反射系の発見と同時に，乗り物酔い，映像酔い，宇宙酔いといった平衡感覚機能の乱れによって引き起こされる状態における，病態解明の一助となる可能性がある。