Neuronal plasticity of otolith-related vestibular system

Abstract

This review focuses on our effort in addressing the development and lesion-induced plasticity of the gravity sensing system. After severance of sensory input from one inner ear, there is a bilateral imbalance in response dynamics and spatial coding behavior between neuronal subpopulations on the two sides. These data provide the basis for deranged spatial coding and motor deficits accompanying unilateral labyrinthectomy. Recent studies have also confirmed that both glutamate receptors and neurotrophin receptors within the bilateral vestibular nuclei are implicated in the plasticity during vestibular compensation and development. Changes in plasticity not only provide insight into the formation of a spatial map and recovery of vestibular function but also on the design of drugs for therapeutic strategies applicable to infants or vestibular disorders such as vertigo and dizziness.

本文主要探讨与耳石器官有关的中枢神经系统在成年动物前庭器官受损后町塑性的变化。当单侧前庭器官受损后，左右两侧前庭核内神经细胞对平衡刺激的反应和空间定向能力明显出现不对称性。这项发现将为空间定向能力的失调、平衡障碍和运动病等提供细胞病理基础。另外，前庭代偿能力与双侧前庭核内神经营养因子和谷氨酸受体的改变有密切关系，该类受体在前庭神经细胞发育过程中均有不同的表达。这些实验数据不但对研究成年动物脑平衡感觉图谱的空间调控和前庭系统的修补和代偿提供重要资料，并为太空科学和临床医学，特别是研制药物治疗因耳石问题引发的眩晕疾病等各方面提供理论基础。