The effects of deep sensory stimulation on the development of vestibular compensation in rats.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09871
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: TAKEDA Noriaki 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(医学域), 教授 (30206982)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 北村 嘉章 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(医学域), 准教授 (60380028) ; 松田 和徳 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(医学域), 徳島大学専門研究員 (60721785)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 前庭代償 / 過重力負荷 / 自発眼振 / 深部知覚刺激 / 免疫組織化学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We examined the effects of deep sensory stimulation induced by hypergravity on the development of vestibular compensation in unilaterally labyrinthectomised rats. Vestibular compensation consists of the initial and late processes. The repetitive deep sensory stimulation did not affect neither initial nor late processes in rats. Therefore, it is unlikely that the facilitation of vestibular compensation induced by the repetitive deep sensory stimulation is involved in the mechanism of vestibular rehabilitation for dizzy patients with vestibulopathy. We found that betahistine, a histamine H3 antagonist, facilitated the late, but not initial process of vestibular compensation in unilaterally labyrinthectomised rats. It is suggested that the facilitation of vestibular compensation is involved in the anti-vertiginous effect of betahistine.

Free Research Field

耳鼻咽喉科学分野

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、深部知覚刺激の反復が前庭代償を促進することを明らかにすることで、平衡訓練の実験的根拠を明らかにすることを目指した。しかし、過重力負荷による深部知覚の反復刺激は、前庭代償の前期過程にも後期過程にも影響を与えなかったことから、平衡訓練の有効性のメカニズムとして深部知覚刺激の反復による前庭代償の促進は否定的であった。しかし、Betahistineの抗めまい効果が、前庭代償の後期過程の促進に基づくことを明らかにすることができた。